Orthopedics Hip & Knee Kneecap (Patella) Conditions Print How to Tell If You Have a Kneecap Injury Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Medically reviewed by a board-certified physician Written by twitter linkedin Written by Jonathan Cluett, MD Dr. Jonathan Cluett is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with subspecialty training in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. Learn about our editorial policy Jonathan Cluett, MD Updated on November 12, 2019 More in Orthopedics Hip & Knee Kneecap (Patella) Conditions Causes of Pain ACL Injury Knee Ligament Injuries Knee Replacement Surgery Meniscus Injuries Hip Injuries Hip Replacement Surgery Surgical Procedures Replacement Implants Sprains & Strains Fractures & Broken Bones Physical Therapy Orthopedic Surgery Osteoporosis Pediatric Orthopedics Sports Injuries Shoulder & Elbow Hand & Wrist Leg, Foot & Ankle Assistive Devices & Orthotics Medication & Injections View All The patella, or kneecap, is one of three bones, along with the tibia (shin bone) and femur (thigh bone), that make up the knee joint. All of these bones are covered with a layer of cartilage at points where their surfaces come into contact. Furthermore, the patella is wrapped within a tendon. This tendon connects the quadriceps muscle of the thigh to the shin bone (tibia) below the knee joint. The patella is important functionally because it increases the leverage of the knee joint. From a mechanical perspective, the patella allows for an increase of about 30 percent in the strength of extension of the leg at the knee joint. Verywell / Kelly Miller Symptoms Problems with the kneecap typically cause pain in the area around the kneecap. Often these symptoms are noticed doing specific activities, including walking stairs (particularly down), prolonged sitting, or kneeling. Kneecap problems can be diagnosed on physical examination by a skilled clinician. Sometimes kneecap pain can be difficult for an individual to describe. Often the symptoms occur around the kneecap, but often people will feel it "deep" inside the knee or even in the back of the knee. Causes There are several common problems associated with the kneecap that can cause problems and pain in the knee: Chondromalacia patellae (runner's knee): The most common disorder is known as chondromalacia, often called runner's knee. Chondromalacia occurs because of irritation of the cartilage on the undersurface of the kneecap.Prepatellar bursitis: Prepatellar bursitis is a condition of swelling and inflammation over the front of the knee. This is commonly seen in patients who kneel for extended periods, such as carpet layers and gardeners.Patellar subluxation: Also called an unstable kneecap, patients who experience this painful knee condition have a patella that does not track evenly within its groove on the femur.Kneecap dislocation: When the kneecap comes completely out of its groove, the condition is called a patella dislocation. When the kneecap dislocates, it must be put back into its groove.Patellar tendon tear: Patellar tendon tears are serious injuries when the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shin is ruptured. Recovery takes at least four to six months, possibly longer for a return to sports. When to See a Doctor If knee pain is severe or lasts for more than 48 hours.In the swelling is sudden or lasts for more than 48 hours.If there was a loud popping noise at the time of an injury.The knee is unstable or cannot bear weight.If the knee is physically deformed.If the knee locks with movement. Diagnosis Your physical examination may include specific tests and maneuvers that cause compression to the cartilage on the back of the kneecap to help determine if those provoke your symptoms of pain. Tests commonly performed to diagnose kneecap problems include X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If your doctor suspects a knee infection, blood tests may be used to detect inflammation while arthrocentesis can be used to extract fluid from the knee for evaluation in the lab. Treatment Treatment of these various kneecap conditions depends on the diagnosis, however there are some general guidelines that can be followed. For more information, and for a diagnosis of your knee pain, it is important to see your doctor. Rest: Resting the injured knee to allow time for inflammation to subside is very important. Cross-training will allow you to keep in shape. When you do return to activity, do so gradually.Ice application: Apply ice to the knee to reduce inflammation in the knee. Ensure there is a cloth barrier between the ice pack and the skin, and do not ice the injury for more than 15 minutes.Anti-inflammatory drugs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) may help with inflammation and will also help alleviate some of the pain associated with patella conditions.Kneecap stabilization: When the problem with the kneecap is an issue with dislocation or instability, there are several surgical options to stabilize the kneecap.Physical therapy: Physical therapy is very important to balance the strength of the muscles around the knee joint. Most importantly, the quad and hamstring muscle groups should be flexible and balanced.Arthroscopic surgery: While surgery is seldom needed because of a kneecap problem, arthroscopy is a treatment option if the problem is not getting any better with conservative treatment.Patellar resurfacing: There are surgical options to replace the kneecap. Much like people have a full knee replacement, just the kneecap portion of the joint can be replaced. How to Tell If You Have a Knee Sprain Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Habusta SF, Griffin EE. Chondromalacia patella. In: StatPearls. Updated May 10, 2019. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Prepatellar (kneecap) bursitis. Updated September, 2018. Koh JL, Stewart C. Patellar instability. Orthop Clin North Am. 2015 Jan;46(1):147-57. doi:10.1016/j.ocl.2014.09.011 Hayat Z, Case JL. Patella dislocation. In: StatPearls. Updated June 3, 2019. Hsu H, Siwiec RM. Patellar tendon rupture. In: StatPearls. Updated June 17, 2019. Cleveland Clinic. Joint pain: When to call the doctor. Updated March 28, 2018. Cleveland Clinic. Treatment options for knee pain and injuries. Updated July 25, 2012. Continue Reading