Patellofemoral syndrome is most common in which population?

• A. Active adolescents
• B. Elderly with osteoarthritis
• C. Infants
• D. Middle-aged sedentary adults

Answer: (A)

Patellofemoral syndrome results from overuse and maltracking of the patella when the knee is bent, so it most commonly shows up in active adolescents, especially teenage girls who are rapidly growing and putting high demands on the knee. The combination of growth-related changes and a larger Q-angle increases stresses around the patellofemoral joint, leading to anterior knee pain with activities like running, squatting, or stair climbing. In contrast, elderly individuals with osteoarthritis typically develop patellofemoral OA rather than this overuse syndrome, infants lack the demanding knee-loading pattern, and middle-aged sedentary adults are less likely to experience the repetitive stress pattern that births PFPS.