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Sagittal plane evaluation of patellofemoral movement in patellofemoral pain patients with no evidence of maltracking

Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy volume 23, pages 986–990 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The cause of abnormal patellar kinematics in patients with patellofemoral pain remains unclear. Many patients who develop patellofemoral pain symptoms do not exhibit evidence of maltracking. In these patients, sagittal plane evaluation of patellofemoral movement should be performed.

Methods

Knee radiographs were obtained for forty healthy volunteers and thirty patients at 0°, 30°, 60°, 90° and 120° of flexion in a standing weight-bearing position. The degree of active patellar movement was measured by a newly developed technique called “patellar motion angle”. Three independent examiners sequentially performed all of the measurements under identical conditions.

Results

A significant decrease in the patellar motion angle was found during deep knee flexion from 90° to 120° in the patient group compared to the volunteer group (mean 18.5° ± 5.8° and 23.6° ± 6.2°, respectively) (P = 0.001). From 0° to 90° of knee flexion, no significant differences in the patellar motion angle were found between the two groups.

Conclusion

Sagittal plane patellofemoral joint kinematics is an area of interest in the study of the mechanical factors associated with patellofemoral pain. This study demonstrated a decrease in patellar movement during deep knee bending activity in patients with patellofemoral pain.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic study, Level II.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Siriraj Hospital 2 Prannok Road Bangkoknoi, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand

    Rapeepat Narkbunnam, Keerati Chareancholvanich & Thossart Hanroongroj

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  1. Rapeepat Narkbunnam
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  2. Keerati Chareancholvanich
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  3. Thossart Hanroongroj
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Correspondence to Rapeepat Narkbunnam.

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Narkbunnam, R., Chareancholvanich, K. & Hanroongroj, T. Sagittal plane evaluation of patellofemoral movement in patellofemoral pain patients with no evidence of maltracking. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23, 986–990 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-013-2782-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-013-2782-7

Key words

  • Patellofemoral pain
  • Patellar movement
  • Patellar tracking
  • Radiographic study