Anterior knee pain in the athlete
Laurie Anne Hiemstra1, Sarah Kerslake2, Christopher Irving3
1Banff Sport Medicine, PO Box 1300, Banff, Alberta T1L 1B3, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
Abstract:
Given that the patellofemoral joint is one of the most highly loaded in the human body, the high prevalence of anterior knee pain (AKP) in athletes is unsurprising. Athletes with AKP present a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. A clear understanding of the etiology of patellofemoral pain in this population is essential in guiding a focused history and physical examination, and achieving an appropriate diagnosis and treatment approach. This clinical review provides an assessment framework and a guide for neuromuscular function testing, and an overview of the causes and treatments of AKP in this challenging patient population.
Related Concept Videos
Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella
Knee Joint
A total of seven ligaments support the knee joint. The patellar ligament, which is also attached to the quadriceps femoris...
Muscles that Move the Leg
Anterior Compartment
The quadriceps femoris, the most visible muscle of the anterior compartment, is integral for leg extension and thigh flexion. It is formed by merging four distinct muscles — the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris. The quadriceps tendon, a shared tendon of the four quadriceps muscles, is affixed...
Arteries of Lower Limbs


