REVIEW: PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME

Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a common musculoskeletal condition and a major cause for anterior knee pain. It has been associated with excessive compression between the patella and the lateral femoral condyle. It is one of those overuse disorder that can limit activity of daily living along with participation in sports. The prevalence is more on female than those of male with the ratio of 2:1 and it affect athletic female more solely due to greater internal rotation of femur during running which leads to greater hip adduction. The reason for patellofemoral pain syndrome have been multifactorial increased femoral internal rotation, decreased hip abduction and external rotation strength, decreased VMO function and lateral retinaculum tightness. These factor leads to increase in dynamic Q angle that directly increases patellofemoral contact pressure which map a way to patellofemoral pain syndrome. The literature will have an explanation about altered hip kinetics, kinematics and its association with patellofemoral pain syndrome along with rehab protocol for patients with the same condition.

Patellofemoral Joint Loads During Running at the Time of Return to Sport in Elite Athletes With ACL Reconstruction

Background: Patellofemoral joint pain and degeneration are common in patients who undergo anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The presence of patellofemoral joint pain significantly affects the patient’s ability to continue sport participation and may even affect participation in activities of daily living. The mechanisms behind patellofemoral joint pain and degeneration are unclear, but previous research has identified altered patellofemoral joint loading in individuals with patellofemoral joint pain when running. It is unclear whether this process occurs after ACLR. Purpose: To assess the patellofemoral joint stresses during running in ACLR knees and compare the findings to the noninjured knee and matched control knees. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Thirty-four elite sports practitioners who had undergone ACLR and 34 age- and sex-matched controls participated in the study. The participants’ running gait was assessed via 3D motion capture, and knee loads and forces were calculated by use of inverse dynamics. Results: A significance difference was found in knee extensor moment, knee flexion angles, patellofemoral contact force (about 23% greater), and patellofemoral contact pressure (about 27% greater) between the ACLR and the noninjured limb ( P ≤ .04) and between the ACLR and the control limb ( P ≤ .04); no significant differences were found between the noninjured and control limbs ( P ≥ .44). Conclusion: Significantly greater levels of patellofemoral joint stress and load were found in the ACLR knee compared with the noninjured and control knees. Clinical Relevance: Altered levels of patellofemoral stress in the ACLR knee during running may predispose individuals to patellofemoral joint pain.