Abstract
Background
Compensatory movement strategies may develop in response to pain to avoid stress on
the affected area. Patellofemoral pain is characterised by intermittent periods of
pain and the present study addresses whether long-term pain leads to compensatory
movement strategies that remain even when the pain is absent.
Method
Lower extremity kinematics in three dimensions was studied in stair descent in 17
women with patellofemoral and in 17 matched controls. A two-dimensional geometric
model was constructed to normalise kinematic data for subjects with varying anthropometrics
when negotiating stairs of fixed proportions.
Results
There were minor differences in movement patterns between groups. Knee joint angular
velocity in the stance leg at foot contact was lower and the movement trajectory tended
to be jerkier in the patellofemoral group. The two-dimensional model showed greater
plantar flexion in the swing leg in preparation for foot placement in the patellofemoral
group.
Interpretation
The results indicate that an altered stair descent strategy in the patellofemoral
group may remain also in the absence of pain. The biomechanical interpretation presumes
that the strategy is aimed to reduce knee joint loading by less knee joint moment
and lower impact force.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 05, 2008
Accepted:
September 9,
2008
Received:
April 11,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
