title: Variations in foot posture and mobility between individuals with patellofemoral pain and those in a control group.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We sought to determine whether foot posture and foot mobility were increased in individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome compared with individuals in a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nested case-control design was used with two controls matched to each patient by sex and age (±1 year). Participants included 43 individuals with a history of unilateral or bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome and 86 participants in a control group. Data collected included height, weight, and five different measures of foot height and width in weightbearing and nonweightbearing that have been previously shown to have high levels of reliability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome were found to be four times more likely (odds ratio, 4.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-11.32) to have a larger-than-normal difference between nonweightbearing and weightbearing arch height compared with those in the control group. The mean values for difference in arch height and foot mobility magnitude were also statistically significant between the patient and control groups. Foot posture, as determined using the arch height ratio, was not significant between groups (odds ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-2.61).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although foot posture may not be different between individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome and controls, foot mobility assessed using difference in arch height and foot mobility magnitude is different between the two groups.
authors.affiliation: The Laboratory for Foot & Ankle Research, Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA. tmcpoil@regis.edu
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: McPoil
authors.forename: Meghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vicenzino
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Cornwall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011032:Podiatry / Q000295:instrumentation; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D055815:Young Adult