Subjective Examination:
Insidious onset, usually related to increased load or activity
Usually felt on the anterior aspect of the knee joint. Often a vague intermittent pain that can not be pin-pointed
Patient may also report crepitus.
Pain presents following or during activity, usually weight bearing
Common aggravating factors: walking/running, stairs (down>up), kneeling, squatting
Objective Examination:
Patient may present with full knee joint range of motion or may be limited by pain. PROM should be full
Tight quadriceps or hamstring muscles
Swelling with acute episodes
Weakness in quadriceps and gluteal muscles. Quadriceps weakness may be more prominent in VMO than other muscles
Biomechanical variation: knee valgus during single leg squat, over-pronated feet, patella mal-tracking
References
Image from OpenI – Licensed by CC
Image from OpenI – Licensed by CC
Image from OpenI – Licensed by CC
Image from OpenI – Licensed by CC