Hip kinematics during functional tasks in females with patellofemoral pain: Modification following rehabilitation and correlation with clinical improvement

Abstract

Objectives: To compare hip kinematics during two functional tasks in females with and without patellofemoral pain (PFP), and to determine if hip kinematics and, symptoms and functional limitations were improved after a rehabilitation program.

Design: Cross sectional and longitudinal.

Participants: Sixteen females with and 15 without PFP.

Setting: Laboratory and physical therapy clinic.

Main outcome measures: Hip adduction (HADD) and medial rotation (HMR) peak angles, time integrals and inter-movement variability during step-down and vertical drop jump, symptoms and functional limitations evaluated using the Activities of Daily Living Scale of the Knee Outcome Survey (KOS-ADLS).

Results: At baseline, no significant differences were found in step-down and vertical drop jump between PFP and controls. Following rehabilitation, significant improvements were reported in KOS-ADLS (p < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in HADD and HMR variability (p < 0.05), a trend for decreased peak HMR (p = 0.06) during step-down, and a significant decrease in HADD variability (p < 0.05) during vertical drop jump. These kinematic changes did not correlate with changes in KOS-ADLS (all p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Females with and without PFP demonstrated no hip kinematic differences during functional tasks. A rehabilitation program improved symptoms and functional status, and modified hip kinematics in females with PFP; however these changes were not correlated.

Keywords: Anterior knee pain; Motor control; Running; Training.