Knee flexion during stair ambulation is altered in individuals with patellofemoral pain
Open Access
- 1 March 2004
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Orthopaedic Research
- Vol. 22 (2), 267-274
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orthres.2003.08.014
Abstract
Reduced knee flexion is a logical gait adaptation for individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP) to lessen the patellofemoral joint reaction force and minimise pain during stair ambulation. This gait adaptation may be related to the co-ordination of individual vasti components. This study investigated the amount of stance-phase knee flexion in individuals with (n=48) and without (n=18) PFP using a cross-sectional design. The relationship between stance-phase knee flexion and onset timing of individual vasti activity was also examined. Stance-phase knee flexion was measured in 2-dimensions using a PEAK movement analysis system during stair ascent and descent. Individuals with PFP were separated into those with synchronous onset of the EMG activity of vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL), and those where the onset of VMO EMG activity was delayed relative to the VL. The amount of knee flexion at heel-strike and peak was less in the individuals with PFP compared with the healthy controls. In addition, there were trends towards individuals with PFP who had a delayed EMG onset of VL having reduced knee flexion during stair descent compared with PFP individuals with simultaneous vasti onsets and the control participants. These results indicate that the amount of stance-phase knee flexion is lower in individuals with PFP and that this may be related to onset timing of the vasti.This publication has 59 references indexed in Scilit:
- Patellofemoral Pain SyndromeSports Medicine, 1999
- Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries among Norwegian conscripts undergoing basic military trainingScandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 1996
- A Biomechanical and Clinical Evaluation of a Patellofemoral Knee BraceClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 1996
- Profiles of Exercise History and Overuse Injuries Among United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) RecruitsThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1994
- The Pathophysiology of Patellofemoral PainSports Medicine and Arthroscopy Review, 1994
- Biomechanics of the Patellofemoral Joint and Its Clinical RelevanceClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 1990
- Experimental determination of forces transmitted through the patello-femoral jointJournal of Biomechanics, 1988
- Force ratios in the quadriceps tendon and ligamentum patellaeJournal of Orthopaedic Research, 1984
- Overall principle of lower limb support during stance phase of gaitJournal of Biomechanics, 1980
- Nature and causes of injuries in women resulting from an endurance training programThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1980