Biomechanical analysis of integrated parameters for diagnosis and classification of women with patellofemoral pain syndrome: study of reliability, precision, diagnostic accuracy and association with pain and function

Abstract

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is characterized by a multifactorial etiology, leading to changes in proximal, local and distal sites to knee regions. Evidences in the literature points to a distortion of the locomotion physiological classic pattern in subjects with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. However, it should be considered that: (i) there were few scientific studies that simultaneously investigate biomechanical changes in proximal, local and distal regions to the knee; (ii) the methodological care for the quality of measurement (reliability and precision) in many cases are not reported, making it difficult to insert these parameters characterizing the disorder; (iii) there is a lack of studies that verify the diagnostic accuracy of biomechanical parameters in PFPS; (iv) there is wide heterogeneity in sample selection that comprises studies on PFPS. Caused by the application of large amounts of clinical tests for individuals selection and not using more reliable parameters, such as biomechanics, for their inclusion. Therefore, this project aims to address these issues, with the aim to investigate kinematic, kinetic and muscular recruitment dynamic patterns of proximal, local and distal regions to the knee, during stair climbing, in subjects with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. (AU)