A prospective study on gait-related intrinsic risk factors for patellofemoral pain.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively determine gait-related risk factors for patellofemoral pain.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Male and female recruits of the Belgian Royal Military Academy during a 6-week basic military training period.


METHODS
Eighty-four officer cadets (65 men, 19 women), who entered the Military Academy and were without a history of any knee or lower-leg complaints, participated in the study.


METHODS
Before the start of the 6-week basic military training period, plantar pressure measurements during walking were performed. During the basic military training period, patellofemoral complaints were diagnosed and registered by a sports medicine physician.


METHODS
Plantar pressure measurements during walking were performed using a footscan pressure plate (RsScan International).


RESULTS
During the 6-week training period, 36 subjects developed patellofemoral pain (25 male and 11 female). Logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects who developed patellofemoral pain had a significantly more laterally directed pressure distribution at initial contact of the foot, a significantly shorter time to maximal pressure on the fourth metatarsal, and a significantly slower maximal velocity of the change in lateromedial direction of the center of pressure during the forefoot contact phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the feet of the persons who developed anterior knee pain have a heel strike in a less pronated position and roll over more on the lateral side compared with the control group. The results of this study can be considered valuable in identifying persons at risk for patellofemoral pain.
Thijs
Youri
Y
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical Therapy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. youri.thijs@ugent.be
Van Tiggelen
Damien
D
Roosen
Philip
P
De Clercq
Dirk
D
Witvrouw
Erik
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors