Patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis: an individualised pathomechanical approach to management

Patellofemoral joint integrity is maintained by an optimal interaction of passive, dynamic and structural restraints. Disruption of these mechanics can lead to structural joint damage and subsequent patellofemoral osteoarthritis, which is a prevalent and disabling condition with few effective conservative management strategies. Due to the influential role of biomechanics in this disease, targeting the specific pathomechanics exhibited by an individual is logical to improve their likelihood of a positive treatment outcome. This review summarises the effect of different pathomechanical factors on the presence and progression of patellofemoral osteoarthritis. It then presents a synthesis of mechanical effect of treatment strategies specifically addressing these pathomechanics. Identifying the pathomechanics and clinical characteristics of individuals with patellofemoral osteoarthritis that respond to treatment may assist in the development of individualised treatment strategies that alleviate symptoms and slow structural damage.