The nonsurgical treatment of patellofemoral disorders

It is an orthopaedic truism that patellofemoral disorders can be treated nonsurgically in the vast majority of cases. The odds of a nonsurgical program being successful depend on the severity of the underlying condition and contingent on the adequacy and sophistication of the nonsurgical protocol. In this article, we review the main features of the nonsurgical treatment of patellofemoral disorders. These include physical therapy (selective mobilization, stretching, strengthening, taping, modalities, feedback), bracing, medication, activity modification, and footwear adjustments. It benefits the orthopaedist to be familiar with these approaches, lest he or she perform unnecessary surgery.