Anterior knee pain

Symptoms from behind or around the kneecap (anterior knee pain) are extremely common. They can be caused by a multitude of conditions from flat feet to patello-femoral arthritis. Anterior knee pain is generally felt when the knee is flexed under pressure such as walking downstairs, squatting and kneeling. Young women (12-20) are particularly susceptible to anterior knee pain due to a condition called chondromalacia patellae in which the cartilage behind the kneecap softens.

The treatment of anterior knee symptoms is dependent on the cause of the symptoms. To reach a diagnosis investigations such as X-rays, MR scan and bone scans may be necessary although simple clinical examination by a knee surgeon may often give the diagnosis.