The Difference in a Clinical Measure of Patella Lateral Position Between Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain and Matched Controls

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional matchedpairs design. OBJECTIVE:To investigate if differences existed in the medio-lateral position of the patella between subjects with patellofemoral pain (PFP) and matched controls. BACKGROUND:The assessment of patella position is often proposed as an essential aspect of clinical examination of individuals with PFP. To date, only 1 clinical method of assessing lateral patella position has been intensively investigated. Although there is a growing body of evidence on the reliability and validity of this method, no studies have investigated differences in patella position between individuals with PFP and controls. METHODS AND MEASURES:Twelve female subjects with PFP and 12 matched controls (mean SD age, 21.9 2.6 years) were assessed for medio-lateral patella position with the knee in 20° of flexion. Differences between groups were investigated with independent-groups t tests. RESULTS:All subjects were found to have a laterally located patella. The mean SD lateral position for the individuals in the PFP group was 7.5 2.6 mm compared to 3.8 2.4 mm for the control group. This difference was statistically significant (P = .019). Intratester reliability of the measurement of patellar position, calculated using intraclass correlation model 3,1, was 0.86. CONCLUSION:Using this method of assessing patella position, the patella of individuals with PFP was significantly more laterally located than the patella of those in a matched control group.

Immediate Effects of Lumbopelvic Manipulation and Lateral Gluteal Kinesio Taping on Unilateral Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

“…1-4,12,13,16,26,30,34,44 For example, impaired vastus medialis obliquus activation gained favor as a main contributor to PFPS; however, this theory lost support, as additional evidence demonstrated conflicting results. 23,26,28,44 Patellar position and subsequent patellar taping showed promising early results, 1,23,43,44 although subsequent research did not demonstrate the same positive effects. 30,39 …”