Where in Dubai
Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, sees patients with kneecap pain at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai. Wear or bring the shoes you train or work in, and note which activities bring the pain on. Most of the treatment is an exercise programme, so he can suggest how to continue it with a physiotherapist or on your own near home in Dubai.
What is kneecap pain (patellofemoral pain)?
Pain at the front of the knee, around or behind the kneecap, is one of the most common knee complaints. Doctors call it anterior knee pain or patellofemoral pain. The kneecap glides in a groove at the end of the thigh bone each time the knee bends. When that joint is overloaded, it hurts. Common causes are a sudden increase in running, squatting or stairs, weak thigh and hip muscles, and a kneecap that does not track centrally in its groove. It is common in teenagers, runners and people who kneel or squat a lot. Arthritis behind the kneecap can cause similar pain in older adults. Most people get better with the right exercises, without surgery.
Common signs
- A dull ache at the front of the knee, around or behind the kneecap.
- Pain going up or down stairs, squatting, kneeling or getting up from a low seat.
- Pain after sitting for a long time with the knees bent, such as in a car or at the cinema.
- A grinding or crackling feeling under the kneecap.
- Pain that started after you ran more, trained harder or changed your shoes or surface.
How Dr. Subhash approaches it
Dr. Subhash is a specialist orthopaedic surgeon whose CV lists keyhole knee surgery, including chondroplasty, the smoothing of damaged joint cartilage. For kneecap pain, surgery is rarely needed, and he starts by finding the cause: how the kneecap tracks, the strength of the thigh and hip muscles, and whether there is cartilage damage or arthritis. Most people are treated with an exercise programme. He considers keyhole surgery only for the few whose pain does not settle and who have a problem it can fix.
What to expect
Consultation
He asks when the pain started, what makes it worse and what changed in your activity, and checks how your kneecap moves.
Examination of the whole leg
He looks at the hips, feet and muscle strength too, because weakness or alignment higher or lower in the leg can overload the kneecap.
Scans if needed
An X-ray can show the kneecap's position and any arthritis. An MRI is used when cartilage damage or another injury is suspected.
Exercise programme
Strengthening the thigh and hip muscles, with stretches, is the main treatment. A physiotherapist can guide it.
Adjusting your load
You cut back, for a while, on what provokes the pain, such as deep squats, running downhill or long stairs, then build back up.
Review
He checks your progress. Surgery is discussed only for the small group whose pain persists despite months of proper rehabilitation.
Getting better
Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.
- Most people improve with regular exercises, though it can take a few months.
- Ice after activity and simple pain relief can ease flares.
- Building activity back gradually, rather than all at once, helps stop the pain returning.
- Supportive shoes or shoe inserts help some people whose foot position adds to the load on the knee.
Risks to know about
- Returning to full training too quickly often brings the pain back.
- Surgery for kneecap pain helps only selected problems, so it is not offered as a first step.
When to book a visit
Book a visit if pain at the front of the knee has lasted more than a few weeks, or is stopping you from sport, stairs or prayer. Seek help sooner if your kneecap has slipped out of place, the knee is very swollen, or it locks or gives way.
Where to book
Dr. Subhash sees patients at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, in north-east Dubai. The clinic is at Shop No. 4, next to the Grand Excelsior Hotel.
Grand Infinity Medical Center
Shop No. 4, next to Grand Excelsior Hotel, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
DirectionsCall +971 58 599 7460WhatsApp
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Questions patients ask
Does kneeling for prayer make kneecap pain worse?
Kneeling and deep bending load the joint behind the kneecap, so they often hurt while the knee is sore. Ask about ways to reduce the strain while you recover, such as a cushion or using a low stool for a while.
Is pain behind the kneecap arthritis?
Not usually in younger people. In teenagers and active adults it is most often patellofemoral pain from overload. In older adults, arthritis behind the kneecap is more likely. An examination, and sometimes an X-ray, tells them apart.
Should I stop running if my kneecap hurts?
You may need to reduce running for a while, not stop all activity. Swimming and cycling with little resistance are often comfortable while you strengthen the muscles that support the kneecap.
Will I need an operation for kneecap pain?
Very rarely. Most kneecap pain settles with exercise and activity changes. Keyhole surgery is considered only for severe cases that have not improved with proper rehabilitation, and only when there is a problem it can fix, such as damaged cartilage.
Book an appointment
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