Anterior knee pain, also known as runner's knee or or chondromalacia patellae, refers to pain located in the front of the knee around the kneecap.
The knee cap (patella) sits over the front of the knee joint. When you bend your knees, the back of the knee cap glides over the cartilage of the thigh bone (femur). Assisting in this movement are tendons and ligaments that attach the knee cap to the shinbone and thigh muscle. When any of these parts are unable to move or function normally, pain can arise.
Anterior knee pain is a common symptom and can be due to a number of causes.
What are the symptoms of anterior knee pain?
Typical symptoms of anterior knee pain include:
Dull aching pain in the front of the knee cap.
Pain that comes and goes, and feels worse after long periods of sitting.
A grating or grinding sensation or sound when the knee bends and straightens, known as crepitus.