Signs and Symptoms
History
- Pain under and around the kneecap with activities including squatting, sitting for prolonged periods with the knees bent, and going up or down stairs or hills: These activities increase patellofemoral contact stress.
- Recent history of direct trauma to the kneecap: A blunt trauma to the kneecap can cause soft tissue or subchondral contusion that may exacerbate this condition.
Physical Exam
- Improper hip, knee, and ankle rotation as well as angulation: Improper angulation and rotation can lead to lateralized vector forces across the knee.
- Cracking noises from the front of the knee with flexion and extension:
- Cracking can be a sign of softening of the undersurface of the patella
- Chondromalacia is patellar articular cartilage pathologic changes which range from mild cracking attributed to softening to locking and catching attributed to cartilage disruption.
