Treating patients with patellofemoral conditions.

There are 5 broad diagnostic categories of patellofemoral pathology. Narrowing the list of possible diagnoses to one category helps determine appropriate treatment. Patients with an acute traumatic patellofemoral condition have a history of a specific precipitating event. Surgical intervention may be required for definitive management of acute injuries. Patients with overuse injuries often complain of activity-related aching in the anterior knee. Appropriate supervised physical therapy may provide effective treatment. Degenerative processes can affect the articular cartilage of the patellofemoral joint on the patellar or trochlear side. Symptomatic disease limited to the patellofemoral joint represents a significant management challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]