Patellofemoral joint

The patellofemoral joint (PFJ) is the joint between the kneecap (patella) and thigh bone (femur).

The PFJ can dislocate, in which the kneecap 'pops'  out laterally. It can also give rise to pain through poor tracking of the kneecap in its groove.

Pain arising from maltracking of the patella is called patellofemoral pain syndrome , patellofemoral malalignment or chondromalacia patellae . It is treated by exercises to strengthen the inner most quadriceps muscle (called vastus medius oblique (VMO)) and taping or strapping.

Both unstable and maltracking kneecaps can benefit from taping which pulls the kneecap from out to in, or a brace with velcro straps that pulls the kneecap from out to in.

Daryn Cresswell pushes his own kneecap back into place in 1997

Illustration of Rehband Genu Lux brace

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