What does chondromalacia patella feel like?
The most common symptom is pain underneath or around the edges of the patella. The pain is made worse by any activities that load the patellofemoral joint, such as running, squatting, or going up and down stairs. Kneeling is often too painful to even try. Keeping the knee bent for long periods, as in sitting in a car or movie theater, may cause pain. There may be a sensation like the patella is slipping. This is thought to be a reflex response to pain and not because there is any instability in the knee. Others experience vague pain in the knee that isn’t centered in any one spot. The knee may grind, or you may hear a crunching sound when you squat or go up and down stairs. If there is a considerable amount of wear and tear, you may feel popping or clicking as you bend your knee. This can happen when the uneven surface of the underside of the patella rubs against the femoral groove. The knee may swell with heavy use and become stiff and tight. This is usually because of fluid accumulat
