title: Comparison of isometric ankle strength between females with and without patellofemoral pain syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Proximal and distal influences on the knee may be related as etiological factors of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). The distal factors include subtalar excessive pronation as well as medial tibia rotation, but no study has investigated whether ankle weakness could lead to alterations that influence the patellofemoral joint. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare the ankle dorsiflexor and invertor muscles strength, as well as rearfoot eversion and the Navicular Drop Test (NDT) in females with PFPS to a control group of females of similar demographics without PFPS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty females, between 20 and 40 years of age (control group: n=20; PFPS group: n=20) participated. Rearfoot eversion range of motion and the NDT were assessed for both groups. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale and the Anterior Knee Pain Scale were used to evaluate the level of pain and the functional capacity of the knee during activities, respectively. Isometric ankle dorsiflexor and invertor strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer as the dependent variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The isometric strength of the dorsiflexor and invertor muscle groups in females with PFPS was not statistically different (P>0.05) than that of the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for rearfoot eversion and NDT (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that there is no difference between isometric ankle dorsiflexion and inversion strength, the NDT, and rearfoot eversion range of motion in females with and without PFPS.
  
  
  METHODS
  3-b.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Physical Therapy Department, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: de Moura Campos Carvalho E Silva
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.affiliation: Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Physical Therapy Department, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavio Fernandes
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Bryk
authors.affiliation: Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Physical Therapy Department, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Yukio
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Fukuda
keywords: Ankle; handheld dynamometer; knee; patella; strength