Anterior knee pain from chondromalacia of the patella typically starts as the result of:

Anterior knee pain from chondromalacia of the patella typically starts as the result of:

• A. Overuse
• B. Direct trauma
• C. Infection
• D. Degenerative change

Answer: (A)

Chondromalacia patellae arises from repetitive stress to the patellofemoral joint, so anterior knee pain typically starts after overuse. Repeated knee bending and quadriceps contraction—seen with running, stairs, squatting, and jumping—increase patellofemoral joint loading, causing gradual cartilage wear behind the patella. This microtrauma accumulates and leads to the characteristic pain and crepitus of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Direct trauma would cause an abrupt injury, infection would bring inflammatory symptoms, and degenerative change is more common with aging and generalized osteoarthritis. Hence, the usual starting factor is overuse from repetitive stresses.

Chondromalacia patellae arises from repetitive stress to the patellofemoral joint, so anterior knee pain typically starts after overuse. Repeated knee bending and quadriceps contraction—seen with running, stairs, squatting, and jumping—increase patellofemoral joint loading, causing gradual cartilage wear behind the patella. This microtrauma accumulates and leads to the characteristic pain and crepitus of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Direct trauma would cause an abrupt injury, infection would bring inflammatory symptoms, and degenerative change is more common with aging and generalized osteoarthritis. Hence, the usual starting factor is overuse from repetitive stresses.