Which specialist treats chondromalacia patellae?

An orthopaedic knee specialist or sports medicine doctor can diagnose chondromalacia patellae, while a physiotherapist often leads rehabilitation. A primary care clinician can assess knee symptoms and arrange referral.

Chondromalacia patellae involves irritation or softening of cartilage on the underside of the kneecap. Pain may be felt around the front of the knee and can be accompanied by knee clicking and grinding, especially with stairs, squatting, or prolonged sitting.

Assessment includes how the kneecap tracks, leg strength, flexibility, walking pattern, and activities that bring on symptoms. The clinician may consider other causes of knee pain rather than assuming every clicking knee has this condition.

Your plan may include temporarily reducing painful loading, then building hip and thigh strength gradually. Physiotherapy and exercise therapy can improve movement control and help you return to activities. Supportive measures are selected according to examination findings, not a scan alone.

Seek prompt assessment if the knee becomes acutely swollen, locks, gives way repeatedly, cannot bear weight, or follows a significant injury. Arrange routine review when front-of-knee pain keeps limiting stairs, sitting, work, or exercise despite sensible activity changes.

Ask whether the pain is coming from the kneecap joint, which activities to modify, how exercises should progress, and what improvement should feel like. Ask when imaging or a different specialist would be useful.