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What Does the Research Say?
Patellofemoral Pain: The Most Common Knee Diagnosis in Sports Medicine
It's not a niche condition. Patellofemoral pain accounts for up to 40% of all knee problems in sports medicine clinics, and some populations are hit harder than others.
40%
of all knee complaints in sports medicine settings are diagnosed as patellofemoral pain, making it the single most frequent knee diagnosis among active individuals seeking care.
Primary Care Incidence
3.4
New cases per 1,000 person-years in patients aged 7 to 24, based on data from over 300,000 patients in Dutch general practice.
Female vs. Male Incidence
2×
Women have nearly double the incidence of men (4.6 vs. 2.3 per 1,000 person-years). The sex gap is consistent across populations.
Peak Age of Onset
13
Peak incidence hits at age 13 for both sexes, coinciding with rapid growth spurts and increased sports participation during adolescence.
Physiotherapy Referral Rate
28%
Only 28.2% of primary care patients with patellofemoral pain were referred for physiotherapy. Most received advice alone (55.1%).
3 Takeaways for Your Practice
1
Screening Priority
Screen Female Adolescents Proactively
With peak incidence at age 13 and females at nearly twice the risk, female adolescent athletes should receive targeted neuromuscular screening, especially during growth spurts when muscle adaptation lags behind bone growth.
2
Referral Opportunity
Most Patients Never See a Rehab Professional
Over half of patellofemoral pain patients in primary care receive only advice. Evidence-based exercise therapy is the top-tier treatment, yet fewer than 1 in 3 patients get a physiotherapy referral. This is a gap your practice can fill.
3
Clinical Awareness
Look Beyond Biomechanics in Runners
In a study of over 60,000 distance runners, chronic disease burden and allergies independently predicted patellofemoral pain. Systemic health factors deserve a place in your evaluation alongside traditional biomechanical screening.
This content is for informational purposes for licensed clinicians and does not constitute medical advice or a substitute for your own clinical research and judgment. Content may include AI-synthesized information; all clinical data, protocols, and dosages must be verified against official primary sources prior to patient care. Any reference to CE rules or regulations is provided as a guide and must be independently verified against current governing body requirements prior to completing credits. This article may contain links to external websites or third-party AI platforms. Ridley Learning has no control over the nature, content, and availability of those sites and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. Ridley Learning is not liable for any injury, loss, clinical outcomes, or licensure issues resulting from the use of or reliance on this information. Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of these terms.
Meet the Author: Anne Osborn, PT, MPT
Anne Perry Osborn is a distinguished physical therapist and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience bridging clinical practice and healthcare education. She holds a Master of Physical Therapy from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and currently serves as the Owner and Director of Quality and Accreditation at Ridley Learning. With a background that includes clinical roles in outpatient rehabilitation and home health, Anne brings practical, hands-on insight to her leadership in continuing education, ensuring that learning opportunities remain relevant and impactful for today's practitioners.
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