A common source of knee pain is when the kneecap doesn't glide when it is bent, this is called patellofemoral pain syndrom. Daily activities such as running up hills and straightening your knees with weights become very painful. These activities require strong quadricept muscles in the front of your thigh to keep the kneecap in position at the bottom of the femur. Patellar subluxation occurs when the kneecap moves out of its normal track. Knee pain is also found in people who participate in jumping sports, such as volleyball and basketball. Jumping over a long period of time inflames the tendon that attatches to the kneecap. This is called patellar tendinitis.
Warning signs that a person should talk to their doctor include, pain in the kneecap during or after running or jumping, a tenderness below the kneecap, or a stiffness in the knee after keeping it in one position for anextended period of time.
If a person is experiencing kneecap pain activities must be stopped for 2 to 4 weeks. An anti-inflammatory such as asprin or ibuprofen might help ease the pain. If symptoms don't go away, visit a doctor, after an exam and an ok from your doctor, immediatley start strenghtening and stretching. For a while apply ice for 10 minutes to your knee after doing exercises. Bicycling can be a good warm-up and can increase fitness after pain lessons. Adjust tension so there is no knee pain and adjust the seat so a persons knees are just slightly bent. Other treatments include rest, shoe inserts or complete physical therapy. Remember to listen to your body and stop any activity when pain occurs.