Sports & Performance
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Pain around the front of the knee, aggravated by stairs, squatting and sitting.
Also called: Runner's knee, Anterior knee pain.
Patellofemoral pain relates to how load is distributed between the kneecap and the thigh bone, which depends on hip control, thigh muscle timing, and foot mechanics working together.
It commonly worsens with stairs, squatting, or prolonged sitting with the knee bent, and can develop gradually without a specific injury.
Why this matters
It is one of the most common complaints in runners and in active teenagers, and it tends to respond best when the whole limb — hip through foot — is considered rather than the knee alone.
Because the knee is often the site of the pain but not necessarily the site of the cause, evaluating hip and foot control is a routine part of addressing it.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
Single-leg control — the ability to stabilize the hip and knee while standing or landing on one leg — is a balance and coordination task, so it is tested as one rather than assumed.
Muscle timing around the knee, particularly of the hip stabilizers, is coordinated by the nervous system, and imbalances there are a common contributor to this pattern.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
Common questions
- Will I be adjusted on the first visit?
- Generally no. The first visit is an evaluation visit. Dr. Geran reviews the findings and makes recommendations at the follow-up visit.
- Do I need imaging before I come in?
- Not usually. If your history or examination suggests imaging is needed, we will say so and help arrange the right next step.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Some symptoms need medical evaluation first. If anything in your history or examination suggests that, we will say so and help point you in the right direction.
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Joint Pain & Staying Active — Shoulders, hips, knees, ankles — extremity function matters as much as the spine.
- Achilles Tendinopathy — Pain and stiffness in the Achilles tendon, usually load-related.
- Ankle Pain — Pain or restriction at the ankle, often after an old injury.
- Ankle Sprain — Ligament injury from rolling or twisting the ankle.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.