Anterior knee pain

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Anterior knee pain occurs at the front of the knee and is caused by softening of the cartilage or misalignment of the patellofemoral joint (where the kneecap connects with the thigh bone).

Runner's knee

The health care provider will perform a physical examination of the knee to confirm and assess the pain.

Tests that may be performed to rule out possible structural damage to the knee or connective tissue include the following:

• Joint x-ray
• Joint CT scan
• MRI scan of the knee

The most common cause of runner's knee is pronation and lateral (away from the middle) pulling of the patella. This causes misalignment with the connective tissues and muscles involved with knee movement.

Anterior knee pain may also be caused by softening of the cartilage beneath the kneecap (chondromalacia patellae), arthritis or by pinching of the inner lining of the knee with knee motion (synovial impingement).

Review Date: 10/23/2006
Reviewed By: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.