Welcome to the 2026 Q4 newsletter from the Patellofemoral Foundation! Inside, we reflect on a year of education, research, and international collaboration, welcome Dr. Miho Tanaka to the PFF Board of Directors, and explore the role of quadriceps alignment in understanding patellofemoral mechanics. We’re grateful to the clinicians, researchers, educators, and supporters whose dedication continues to advance patient care, and we look forward to the discoveries still ahead as we finish 2026 and prepare for 2027.
A Year of Shared Progress: 2026 Patellofemoral Highlights
In the final months of 2026, the Patellofemoral Foundation is proud to reflect on a year of advancing education, sharing research, and celebrating contributions to patellofemoral care.
In March, PFF supported the 26th International Sports Medicine Fellows Conference in Carlsbad, California. Dr. John Fulkerson delivered the keynote address and moderated a dedicated patellofemoral session featuring Drs. Miho Tanaka, Laurie Hiemstra, and Seth Sherman. Expert lectures, interactive discussion, and a hands-on cadaver workshop helped fellows connect clinical knowledge with practical surgical skills.
In May, PFF members joined colleagues at the International Patellofemoral Study Group meeting in Lyon, France. Dr. Bill Post welcomed attendees to the academic program, and Dr. Elizabeth Arendt opened the meeting with a keynote reflecting on her career and the relationships that have shaped patellofemoral medicine. During the meeting, PFF presented its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Andrew Cosgarea of Johns Hopkins, recognizing his leadership and contributions to the field, including computational modeling and three- and four-dimensional imaging of the patellofemoral joint.
In July, PFF continued its longstanding support of the AOSSM Annual Meeting in Seattle, reinforcing its commitment to research exchange, professional education, and collaboration across sports medicine.
October brought further opportunities for hands-on learning at AANA’s Mastering the Complicated Knee course in Rosemont, Illinois. Co-chaired by Drs. Miho Tanaka and Jason Koh, the course featured a keynote from Dr. Fulkerson and cadaver-based training, helping surgeons strengthen their skills in managing complex knee conditions.
With 2026 still underway, there is more to discover and accomplish. We look forward to building on this progress in 2027 and supporting the breakthroughs still to come.
Dr. Miho Tanaka Joins the PFF Board of Directors
The Patellofemoral Foundation is honored to welcome Dr. Miho J. Tanaka to its Board of Directors following a unanimous vote. A sports medicine surgeon and Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Tanaka is the Founding Director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Her research spans patellofemoral disorders, gender-based differences in orthopaedic injuries, and the anatomy and biomechanics of the medial patellofemoral complex. Her work in dynamic imaging provides further insight into patellofemoral joint function. PFF looks forward to the clinical expertise and scientific perspective she brings to advancing research, education, and patient care.
Looking Beyond Bone: The Role of Quadriceps Alignment
A recent Healio Patellofemoral Update by Dr. Simon Talbot highlights an often-overlooked factor in patellofemoral mechanics: the alignment of the quadriceps. While assessment traditionally focuses on bony anatomy, his research suggests that rotational displacement of the muscle can shift forces on the patella independently of those measurements.
Using standard CT or MRI images, the quadriceps tendon axial angle (QTAx) offers a way to assess this alignment. Studies described in the article associate quadriceps malalignment with lateral facet patellofemoral osteoarthritis and recurrent instability, suggesting that muscle orientation may help explain problems that bone measurements alone cannot fully characterize.
These findings encourage a more comprehensive view of the joint—one that considers both static anatomy and the muscular forces acting on the patella—with potential implications for assessment, rehabilitation, and surgical planning.
Contributions are Welcome!
Please consider a donation to the Patellofemoral Foundation. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization supported solely by contributions from individuals and corporations. All funds are used to support research and educational efforts that help those who suffer from anterior knee pain and instability. We welcome and appreciate all contributions.