Association between lower extremity movement compensations in the presence of PFPS among female collegiate football athletes: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Fifteen to fifty percent of all sports injuries commonly occur in the knee joint. Active women are more susceptible to Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) than men. Aims: This study aims to associate the presentation of different movement compensations at the different body segments such as the hip, knee, and foot with the presence of PFPS among female collegiate football players at the University of Santo Tomas. Methods: In this descriptive observational cross-sectional study, purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. A total of 11 participants were included. PFPS has a strong association with Anterior Knee Pain (AKP), and it was diagnosed using the Physical Examination questionnaire. With the use of dynamic and transitional assessments, namely overhead squat test (OST) and tuck jump test (TJT), movement patterns were observed using standardized data sheets and video analysis. Results: Among those 11 female participants (mean age 19 ± 1.7 years old), 8 were diagnosed with PFPS and 3 were negative of PFPS. An association between different compensations and PFPS was sought using Fisher's exact statistical tool. In the OST, compensations such as the foot turning out, foot flattening, knee directing inward and outward, lumbo-pelvic-hip complex patterns. In the TJT, PFPS was associated with three general compensations: foot placement, landing contact noise, and lower extremity valgus. Conclusion: There was no direct association found between movement compensations and PFPS in dynamic and transitional assessments among female collegiate football players in this study. Although there are a few associations between different lower extremity movement compensations with PFPS. The majority of those with PFPS had knee out and LPHC compensations with the OST. With the TST, those with PFPS have positive foot placement compensations as compared to the majority of those without PFPS.