knee Chondromalacia
Los Angeles

Steve Yoon

What is chondromalacia?

Chondromalacia is a common injury affecting professional athletes and young, active people, but can affect any person, of any age. It involves softening and damage of the articular cartilage in a joint. Patella chondromalacia is also known as runner’s knee. It is a condition in which the cartilage on the undersurface of the kneecap softens and deteriorates.

What are the symptoms of runner’s knee?

  • Pain in the knee region is the main symptom of chondromalacia patellae.
  • It may worsen after activities that put pressure on the knees, such as standing for an extended period of time or exercising.
  • Pain may worsen after prolonged sitting.
  • Other symptoms may include grinding or cracking when you bend or extend the knee.

What causes patella chondromalacia?

The kneecap (patellae) usually resides over the front of the knee joint. When you bend the knees, the back side of the patellae glides over the thigh bone (femur) at the knee. Ligaments and tendons attach the patellae to the shin bone (tibia) and thigh muscle. When any of these parts fail to move properly, the patellae can rub against the femur, causing deterioration of the kneecap and leading to runner’s knee.

Steve Yoon

What treatment options are available?

Components involved in bending the knee may fail to move properly for a number of reasons including:

  • Poor alignment due to a hereditary condition
  • Imbalance between the muscles on the outside and inside of the thighs
  • Weak hamstrings (in the back of the thigh) or quadriceps (in the front of the thigh)
  • Direct blow or trauma to the kneecap
  • Repeated stress to the knee joints from activities such as running, jumping, or skiing

How is it treated?

Dr. Yoon offers a number of interventions that can support an injured joint:

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections: Platelet rich plasma is a solution made from your own blood and has a high concentration of platelets. Platelets can release growth factors that can assist with the body’s response to injured cartilage.

Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC): Bone marrow aspirate concentrate contains numerous stem cells, growth factors, cytokines, and other factors that can promote joint health.

Viscosupplementation: Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found within joints. It can assist with providing a lubrication effect.

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