title: Clinical classification of patellofemoral pain syndrome: guidelines for non-operative treatment.
abstract: The patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) remains a challenging musculoskeletal entity encountered by clinicians. Reviewing the literature, conflicting data seem to exist regarding the effect of non-operative treatment in PFPS patients. A possible explanation may be lack of a clear classification system of patients with PFPS. It is our opinion that the term PFPS still is a 'wastebasket', which probably comprises several different entities. Therefore, it seems important to subdivide this broad group of patients into different categories with a specific rehabilitation approach. In this study, we introduce a classification system, which reflects a consensus reached by the European Rehabilitation Panel. This classification system should help the clinicians to identify the cause(s) of patellofemoral pain, and consequently help to select the most appropriate non-operative treatment. The authors are aware that no rehabilitation protocol will work for all PFPS patients, since the underlying mosaic of pathophysiology and tissue-healing responses are unique. Therefore, the aim of this study with a classification system was to guide the clinician through clinical examination in order to develop a non-operative treatment protocol, specific for each individual with PFPS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Ghent University Hospital (6K3) (REVAKI), De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. erik.witvrouw@ugent.be
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Witvrouw
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Tiggelen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vanden Berghe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cerulli
mesh_terms: D017760:Bone Malalignment / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D020511:Neuromuscular Junction Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018583:Pliability; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic