Patellofemoral pain: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment options.

Patients with anterior knee pain present a complex and common problem to health care providers. The diagnosis and treatment of these patients often involve a comprehensive evaluation that includes assessing the chronicity of the pain, the specific location of the complaint, and the previous treatment modalities attempted by the patient. This common diagnosis includes a wide variety of different pathologic abnormalities that can be present independently or concomitantly and cause a spectrum of disabilities for the patient.