Patellofemoral pain | Choose an assessment

01 · CHOOSE YOUR APPROACH

Choose a type of assessment

Start with an assessment type, then select the knee on the body map.

Before physical assessment

Explore symptom behaviour, recent load changes, goals and concerns. Agree a tolerable task and record baseline pain and function. Obtain consent and adapt checks to irritability and your supervised competence.

A hot swollen knee with fever, major traumatic swelling or inability to bear weight needs escalation before routine testing.

Best practice guide · Initial assessment

02 · SELECT THE AREA OF THE BODYAnterior view

Full-length adult facing forwards in a sleeveless top and shorts, with both knees visible. The person's right knee is on your left.

+Right knee →

Choose an assessment to reveal the body hotspots.

← Choose a different assessment

Assess the right knee

Select a structure, label or marker to explore why you would check it, what to assess and how to interpret the findings.

Build a hypothesis. PFP is a clinical presentation, not proof that one structure is damaged. Some regions below prompt checks for alternative diagnoses; you do not need every test for every patient.

Anterior cutaway & sagittal section15 structures

Swipe or scroll horizontally to explore the full diagram. The structure list below also opens every pop-up.

Right knee viewed from the front with the anterior capsule and extensor mechanism removed, alongside a sagittal section. Coloured tissues distinguish bones, cartilage, menisci, ligaments and tendons.

The cutaway exposes normally covered tissues. Colours aid identification; clickable outlines approximate the visible structures.

Choose a region to assess

Why check this region?

What would you assess?

What could the findings mean?

Clinical references

Interpret with the history and other findings. Press Esc or use × to return.