Ke. Wilk et al., PATELLOFEMORAL DISORDERS - A CLASSIFICATION-SYSTEM AND CLINICAL GUIDELINES FOR NONOPERATIVE REHABILITATION, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 28(5), 1998, pp. 307-322
Patellofemoral disorders are among the most common clinical conditions
managed in the orthopaedic and sports medicine setting. Nonoperative
intervention is typically the initial form of treatment for patellofem
oral disorders; however, there is no consensus on the most effective m
ethod of treatment. Although numerous treatment options exist for pate
llofemoral patients, the indications and contraindications of each app
roach have not been well established. Additionally, there is no genera
lly accepted classification scheme for patellofemoral disorders. In th
is paper,we will discuss a classification system to be used as the fou
ndation for developing treatment strategies and interventions in the n
onsurgical management of patients with patellofemoral pain and/or dysf
unction. The classification system divides the patellofemoral disorder
s into eight groups, including: 1) patellar compression syndromes, 2)
patellar instability, 3) biomechanical dysfunction, 4) direct patellar
trauma, 5) soft tissue lesions, 6) overuse syndromes, 7) osteochondri
tis diseases, and 8) neurologic disorders. Treatment suggestions for e
ach of the eight patellofemoral dysfunction categories will be briefly
discussed.