Patellofemoral syndrome is a general term used to describe a condition in which there is pain in the front of the knee around the kneecap. It is also called runner’s knee or jumper’s knee as it is common in young athletes who play sports. It is more prominent among women. Patellofemoral pain syndrome can occur in non-athletes as well and could be caused by overuse of the knee, patellar malalignment, muscular weakness especially in the quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh. The resulting pain makes it difficult to bend, climb stairs or sit cross legged. When the condition also involves a softening of the cartilage, the condition is referred to as chondromalacia patella, however, these two terms are commonly used interchangeably. 

Patellofemoral pain symdrome cannot be treated with insoles. It is usually treated with rest, icing, pain relievers and physiotherapy. However, if the ankle joint is not stable, the excessive tibial rotation will cause more friction in the knee joint due to abnormal tracking of the patella while walking and this will aggravate the pain. Thus, insoles are important to arrest faulty foot movements such that they do not cause additional rotation on the knee. 

At Podiapro, we have also seen cases where patients of chondromalacia patella (or patellofemoral pain syndrome) have experienced complete alleviation of knee pain once they have started wearing our insoles.