What are the symptoms of chondromalacia patellae?

Chondromalacia patellae commonly causes pain around the kneecap, clicking or grinding, and discomfort when bending the knee. Symptoms may be worse with stairs, squats, running, jumping, or sitting with the knee bent for a long time.

Pain is often felt behind or around the kneecap and may be aching rather than sharply localised. Knee clicking and grinding can occur as the joint moves, although sounds alone do not prove cartilage irritation. The knee may feel stiff after sitting and sore after activity. Some people notice tenderness or a sense that the kneecap is not moving smoothly. Swelling, locking, or giving way can have other causes and should be described during an assessment.

Arrange a review if knee pain keeps returning, limits walking or exercise, or changes how you use stairs. Temporarily reduce activities that clearly provoke pain, then maintain comfortable movement rather than complete rest. A clinician or therapist may recommend Exercise Therapy or Physiotherapy to address strength, flexibility, movement control, and activity progression. Supportive footwear and gradual return to loading may also be discussed.

Seek urgent advice after an injury if the knee is visibly deformed, rapidly swollen, locked, or impossible to bear weight on. Prompt assessment is also appropriate for a hot swollen knee with fever, or for repeated giving way that creates a fall risk. Persistent Kneecap Pain without an obvious injury deserves routine evaluation.

Ask where the pain is coming from, whether the kneecap tracks normally, which activities to pause, and how an exercise programme can be progressed without repeatedly flaring symptoms.