title: Joint motion quality in vibroacoustic signal analysis for patients with patellofemoral joint disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chondromalacia, lateral patellar compression syndrome and osteoarthritis are common patellofemoral joint disorders leading to functional and/or structural disturbances in articular surfaces. The objective of the study was to evaluate their impact on joint motion quality via the vibroacoustic signal generated during joint movement analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three patients (30 with chondromalacia, 21 with lateral patellar compression syndrome, and 22 with osteoarthritis) and 32 healthy controls were tested during flexion/extension knee motion for vibroacoustic signals using an acceleration sensor. Estimated parameters: variation of mean square (VMS), difference between mean of four maximum and mean of four minimum values (R4), power spectral density for frequency of 50-250 Hz (P1) and 250-450 Hz (P2) were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vibroacoustic signals recorded for particular disorders were characterized by significantly higher values of parameters in comparison to the control group. Moreover, differences were found among the various types of patellofemoral joint disturbances. Chondromalacia and osteoarthritis groups showed differences in all parameters examined. In addition, osteoarthritis patients exhibited differences in VMS, P1 and P2 values in comparison to lateral patellar compression syndrome patients. However, only the value of R4 was found to differ between knees with lateral patellar compression syndrome and those with chondromalacia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that particular disorders are characterized by specific vibroacoustic patterns of waveforms as well as values of analyzed parameters.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Prószkowska Street 76, PL-45-758 Opole, Poland. d.baczkowicz@po.opole.pl.
authors.forename: Dawid
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bączkowicz
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Majorczyk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D046789:Chondromalacia Patellae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D057071:Patellofemoral Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*