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Women with patellofemoral pain syndrome have quadriceps femoris volume and strength deficiency

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess muscle torque, total volume, and cross-sectional area, and lower limb function of the quadriceps muscle in women with unilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).

Methods

Twenty-four women with unilateral patellofemoral pain participated in the study, with each subject acting as their own internal control by using the unaffected limb. quadriceps muscle torque was measured with the Isomed 2000®. The total volume and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the quadriceps muscle were measured by using magnetic resonance imaging. Lower limb function was assessed by hop and step-down tests.

Results

There was a significant difference in the total volume (P < 0.05) and in the cross-sectional area (P < 0.05) of the quadriceps muscle between affected and unaffected sides. There was a significant difference in the peak torque of the quadriceps muscle at 60°/s between affected and unaffected sides (P < 0.05). There were significant correlations between quadriceps largest CSA and volume on the affected side (P < 0.05) and on the unaffected side (P < 0.05). There were significant negative correlations between the smallest CSA and the peak torque at 180°/s (P < 0.05) and at 60°/s (P < 0.05) on the affected side.

Conclusions

Decreased torque, total volume, and CSA of the quadriceps muscle are presented in unilateral with PFPS although cause or effect cannot be established. Large prospective longitudinal studies are needed to detect the changes in the muscle structure and to establish whether these features are a cause of PFPS.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge A. Haydar Demirel Prof. MD and Gurhan Donmez MD for their generous support.

Conflict of interest

All authors have no conflicts of interest with respect to the data collected and procedures used within this study. Authors declare that they have no sponsor in the study design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Ethical statement

The authors confirm this study meets the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and after local ethical approval all subjects provided written informed consent. Ethical approval for the study was received from Hacettepe University in Turkey. Number is HEK 07/ 134-5.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06100, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey

    Defne Kaya & Mahmut Nedim Doral

  2. Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science, Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, 06100, Ankara, Turkey

    Seyit Citaker, Yavuz Yakut & Inci Yüksel

  3. Department of Radiology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Ulku Kerimoglu

  4. Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Hacettepe University, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey

    Ozgur Ahmet Atay & Mahmut Nedim Doral

  5. University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

    John Nyland

  6. Centre For Rehabilitation Science, Manchester University, Manchester, UK

    Michael Callaghan

Authors
  1. Defne Kaya
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  2. Seyit Citaker
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  3. Ulku Kerimoglu
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  4. Ozgur Ahmet Atay
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  5. John Nyland
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  6. Michael Callaghan
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  7. Yavuz Yakut
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  8. Inci Yüksel
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  9. Mahmut Nedim Doral
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Correspondence to Defne Kaya or Mahmut Nedim Doral.

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Kaya, D., Citaker, S., Kerimoglu, U. et al. Women with patellofemoral pain syndrome have quadriceps femoris volume and strength deficiency. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 19, 242–247 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-010-1290-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-010-1290-2

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