Targeted interventions for patellofemoral pain syndrome (TIPPS): classification of clinical subgroups.
BACKGROUND
Patellofemoral pain (PFP) can cause significant pain leading to limitations in societal participation and physical activity. An international expert group has highlighted the need for a classification system to allow targeted intervention for patients with PFP; we have developed a work programme systematically investigating this. We have proposed six potential subgroups: hip abductor weakness, quadriceps weakness, patellar hypermobility, patellar hypomobility, pronated foot posture and lower limb biarticular muscle tightness. We could not uncover any evidence of the relative frequency with which patients with PFP fell into these subgroups or whether these subgroups were mutually exclusive. The aim of this study is to provide information on the clinical utility of our classification system.


METHODS
150 participants will be recruited over 18 months in four National Health Services (NHS) physiotherapy departments in England.


METHODS
adults 18-40 years with PFP for longer than 3 months, PFP in at least two predesignated functional activities and PFP elicited by clinical examination.


METHODS
prior or forthcoming lower limb surgery; comorbid illness or health condition; and lower limb training or pregnancy. We will record medical history, demographic details, pain, quality of life, psychomotor movement awareness and knee temperature. We will assess hip abductor and quadriceps weakness, patellar hypermobility and hypomobility, foot posture and lower limb biarticular muscle tightness. The primary analytic approach will be descriptive. We shall present numbers and percentages of participants who meet the criteria for membership of (1) each of the subgroups, (2) none of the subgroups and (3) multiple subgroups. Exact (binomial) 95% CIs for these percentages will also be presented.


BACKGROUND
This study has been approved by National Research Ethics Service (NRES) Committee North West-Greater Manchester North (11/NW/0814) and University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) Built, Sport, Health (BuSH) Ethics Committee (BuSH 025). An abstract has been accepted for the third International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat, Vancouver, September 2013.
Allied Health Research Unit, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
James
J
Selfe
Michael
M
Callaghan
Erik
E
Witvrouw
James
J
Richards
Maria Paola
MP
Dey
Chris
C
Sutton
John
J
Dixon
Denis
D
Martin
Maria
M
Stokes
Jessie
J
Janssen
Elizabeth
E
Ritchie
David
D
Turner
Rehabilitation Medicine