Peer Reviewed Patient Education





Recovery from patellofemoral pain can be a long process. Non-operative recovery usually takes six weeks or more. Sport activities that heavily load the knee should only be resumed very gradually and cautiously. To reach pre-injury activity level, the patient must build greater strength and flexibility in the muscles around the knee than existed before the injury. By maintaining a high level of fitness, the patient will reduce the likelihood of re-injury.

Operative Recovery

Recovery after surgery for patellofemoral pain syndrome can take even longer than recovery from non-operative treatment. The patient should expect:
  • Crutch use, usually necessary for one to three weeks after surgery

  • Two to three months of healing and rehabilitation

  • A gradual return to desired activities that usually take between three and six months.

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Disclaimer

At Seaport we believe in meeting patients' individual needs through comprehensive evaluation and treatment, designed to help achieve an active, pain-free lifestyle. Seaport physicians take the time to know you and work with you from your initial symptoms or injury, through every aspect of your recovery. Our goal at Seaport is to enable our patients to get back to a full active lifestyle as quickly and safely possible.

Our group is comprised of various physicians whose specialties include orthopaedic surgery, treatment of the hand, knee, spine, hip, foot and ankle, physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain management.