This! My sport orthopedic doctor said the same, and he told me, that was not my mistake because i cycling a lot, or sporting...This is a born issue, which can be tight tendons, bad ligaments, flat feet, abnormal position of the patella, like mine, because my patella sitting a bit higher.

The funny part is, my both knee have Chondromalacia grade 1 damage, but only the left have pain, or have weird feeling when i cycling, feels like my patella not in the right place. The right leg is pain free. Can pushing hard the pedal with it.

Patella correction surgery is the only way (in long term, if the PT + exercises was unsuccessful) if you want cycling painfree, or do some daily stuff.The recovery need at least 3 month, and then you can slowly back to sport.

After the surgery, your kneecap moving up and down in the right place without pain.