Evaluation of Postural Stability in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Patients

Objective: To assess the effect of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) on the postural stability.

Materials and Method: Two groups, each of 30 subjects participated in this study. The first group consisted of 30 patients who had PFPS with mean age 20.50 (±0.97) years, mean weight 69.3(±3.71) Kg. and mean height 173.8(±4.29) Cm. The second group consisted of 30 normal subjects with mean age 20.90 (± 0.99) years, mean weight 70.0 (± 2.75) Kg. and mean height 173.3 (±5.42) Cm. Both groups were tested by athletes' single leg test including overall stability (OASI), medio-lateral stability (MLSI), antero-posterior stability (APSI) indexes and the fall risk test (FR) by using the Biodex balance system. Testing was performed for single and double leg stance conditions over a period of 20 seconds, 3 trials were done for each test and the mean value was recorded.

Results: Using the unpaired t - test to compare between the PFPS and control groups; revealed a significant difference between both groups regarding fall risk test (t = 4.548 and p = 0.0001). In addition, there was a significant difference between both groups regarding athletes' single leg test (OASI, p = 0.0001 and t = 4.653), (APSI, p = 0.0001 and t = 4.723) and (MLSI, p = 0.0001 and t = 4.330).

Conclusion: This study had shown that PFPS causes significant reduction in postural stability that may require further attention during rehabilitation.