Campbells7, a few brief tips to orient you to the knee pain problem that your daughter is most likely suffering.
Doctors of medicine vary in their education and expertise, just like other professionals. This certainly includes othopaedic specialists. The central tenet of a medical approach , with few variations, is to attempt to label a condition as a pathology. hence the term chondromalacia. This term is now quite outdated, as the most recent research has lead to a new understanding about patello femoral dysfunction ( a better decriptor ), which has seen a shift away from the presumption that a pathology exists at all in these cases.

Pain associated with abnormal patella position and movement, is usually felt around the kneecap. This commonly occurs when the nerve associated with the normal function of the vastus medialis oblique muscle is irritated. ( a small part of the quadriceps group found on the inside of the knee on the thigh )
Vastus medialis ( VMO ) is responsible for the normal position of the kneecap under load. If this muscle fails in its attempt to maintain optimum position of the bony feature contained within the main tendon across the knee, then abnormal forces will occur, which will often give rise to swelling, pain and dysfunction.
This is now better understood to be a motor control problem. Focal irritations , of the femoral nerve , related to spinal protective behaviour is the key feature . In particular, when the mid lumbar region is stiff ( L3), referred pain may be felt at the inside of the knee. This same irritation will cause a temporary ( and non pathological ) alteration to the firing of VMO, leading to dysfunction pain swelling etc.
There are several approaches that have value , when provided by a well trained physiotherapist. The most important of which , is to establish a non protected , normal state of mobility to L3.
Spinal protective behaviour may have been associated with ankle foot pronation. There is a strong connection between overpronation and L3 hypomobility , leading to referred events as above. Have her checked for this and if needed, have her fitted with anti pronation orthotic devices , preferably made by an orthotist.
It will be possible to relieve much of the patella pain temporarily, by a taping proceedure known as the Mcconnell method. I recommend this as a first step , so that your daughter can resume her gynastics. Most physios will know this method.
This is a fixable and common complaint. The period of six months (for resolution )has been greatly exagerated. A period of one to two weeks is more likely , provided you are able to find someone sufficiently connected to the above mentioned notions, who is skilled in spinal mobilisation.
I wish you good luck.