Conservative Management of Anterior Knee Pain: The McConnell Program

Abstract

Traditionally, conservative management of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) involved pain-relieving techniques and standard quadriceps strengthening in non-weight bearing positions. In 1986, an Australian physiotherapist, Jenny McConnell, proposed an innovative management program based on the premise that abnormal patellar tracking plays a key role in the etiology of PFPS.63Passive, active, and neural factors predisposing to abnormal patellar tracking were to be identified via a thorough assessment of the patient. Based on the assessment findings, the treatment program aimed first to unload abnormally stressed soft tissue around the patellofemoral joint by optimizing the patellar position ..