Evaluation of Postural Stability in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Patients

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

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.

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).

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