Patellofemoral Syndrome (PFPS) is a broad term used to describe a condition that causes pain around the knee cap on the front of the knee. This pain tends to be worse with repetitive activity such as squatting, sitting, climbing stairs, and running. Patellofemoral Syndrome (PFPS) can be caused by overuse or overload, muscular weakness, muscle imbalance, poor gait mechanics, or biomechanical abnormalities. One of the most common factors is the position and mobility of the patella (kneecap). The positioning of the kneecap is controlled by the nearby muscles. For example, the muscles and structures on the outer side of the knee could be tight and “pulling” the kneecap away from it’s usual track in the center of the knee. This does not mean the kneecap is dislocated, it is just simply not ideally aligned. Treatment for this condition includes exercises (stretching tight muscles and strengthening weak muscles), manual therapy (hands on treatment from your physiotherapist), taping to maintain alignment, and occasionally in some cases orthotics. Your therapist will assess your knee and your kneecap tracking to create a custom treatment plan to address all of your concerns.