Knee proprioceptive function and physical performance of patients with patellofemoral pain: A matched case-control study

Background: Patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP) present pain, functional limitation, and alteration in knee proprioception. Purpose: To compare the knee joint position sense and lower extremity functionality between patients with PFP and controls. Secondarily, investigate the relationship between proprioceptive acuity and physical performance. Methods: This is a matched case-control study including 48 patients with PFP and 48 healthy individuals matched by age, sex, weight, height, and limb dominance. The propri-oceptive evaluation was performed using the joint position sense test (absolute error and relative error) and functionality was assessed using the Single-Leg Triple-Hop test and the Y-Balance Test. The groups were compared using the independent student's T-test. Proprioceptive acuity and physical performance correlations were determined by Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Participants were on average 31 years old and 62.5% were men. There was no statistically difference for absolute and relative angular error between groups. Patients pre-sented lower relative reached distance on the anterior direction of the Y-Balance Test than controls [patients=58.6 (6.6) % versus controls=61.7 (5.9) %, p=.020]. No differences between groups were found for other functional measures. Significant correlation was found between absolute angular error and anterior component at 60 degrees (r=0.225, p=.028) and relative angular error at 60 degrees with the posterolateral component of the Y-Balance Test (r=0.231, p=.024). Conclusion: Proprioceptive acuity of patients with PFP was not reduced. The anterior direc-tion of the Y-Balance Test was impaired compared to matched controls. Proprioceptive sense is related to dynamic balance but not to jump ability. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study compared knee joint position sense and lower extremity functionality between patients with PFP and controls, finding differences in the anterior direction of the Y-Balance Test. There were correlations between proprioceptive errors and the Y-Balance Test results.