A Cause of Knee Pain in Athletes: Chondromalacia Patellae

Abstract

Chondromalacia patella (runner's knee) is a difficult pathology to manage, particularly if the patient is very active. This condition is common among athletes. Poorly managed, 20 patients with chondromalacia patellae were examined, treated and followed four weeks to identify the cause of this injury and its response to a particular regimen of conservative management. Their age ranging from 10 to 50 years. Treatment consisted of prescribing appropriate shoes, orthoses (patellar strapping), and ice application, physiotherapeutic modalities. Eighty-five percent of the patients were symptom free within four weeks of the treatment. The results are similiar to the other cited results.