Differentiating Between Meniscal and Patellar Pain

In brief: Knee pain is the most common problem afflicting runners and recreational athletes. Two of the most common injury sites are at the patella and the meniscus; determining which is involved is central to providing effective treatment and helping patients resume normal activities with minimal delay. Subjective factors such as ability to get into and out of a squatting position provide valuable clues to meniscal vs patellar involvement. Objective factors such as anatomic knee variations do likewise.