Examination People can be observed standing and walking to determine patellar alignment. The Q-angle, lateral hypermobility, and J-sign are commonly used determined to determine patellar maltracking. The<unk>  glide, tilt, and grind tests (Clarke's sign), when performed, can provide strong evidence for<unk> . Lastly, lateral instability can be assessed via the patellar apprehension test, which is deemed positive when there is<unk>  or discomfort associated with lateral translation of the patella. Various clinical tests have been investigated for diagnostic accuracy. The Active Instability Test, knee<unk>  during stair climbing, Clarke's test,<unk>  with prolonged sitting, patellar inferior pole tilt, and<unk>  during squatting have demonstrated the best accuracy. However, careful consideration is still needed when using these tests to make a differential diagnosis of<unk> . Individuals with PFP may be exhibit higher<unk>  level and lower function. Magnetic resonance imaging rarely can give useful information for managing<unk>  and treatment should focus on an appropriate rehabilitation program including correcting strength and flexibility concerns. In the uncommon cases where a patient has mechanical symptoms like a locked knee, knee effusion, or failure to improve following physical therapy, then an MRI may give more insight into diagnosis and treatment. Classification<unk>  is one of a handful of conditions sometimes referred to as runner's knee; the other conditions being chondromalacia patellae, iliotibial band<unk> , and plica<unk> . Chondromalacia patellae is a term sometimes used synonymously with<unk> . However, there is general consensus that<unk>  applies only to individuals without cartilage damage, thereby distinguishing it from chondromalacia patellae, a condition with softening of the patellar articular cartilage. Despite this distinction, the diagnosis of<unk>  is typically made based only on the history and physical examination rather than on the results of any medical imaging. Therefore, it is unknown whether most persons with a diagnosis of<unk>  have cartilage damage or not, making the difference between<unk>  and chondromalacia theoretical rather than practical. It is thought that only some individuals with anterior knee<unk>  will have true chondromalacia patellae. Differential diagnosis The diagnosis of<unk>  is made by ruling out patellar tendinitis, prepatellar bursitis, plica<unk> , Sinding-Larsen and Johansson<unk> , and Osgood–Schlatter disease. Currently, there is not a gold standard assessment to diagnose<unk> .
Patellofemoral pain syndrome
Chondromalacia patellae
Patellar subluxation syndrome
Patellar tendinitis
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome
Infrapatellar fat pad syndrome
Anterior compartment syndrome
Infrapatellar bursitis