Patellofemoral Joint Stress during Running with Added Load in Females

Abstract

Patellofemoral joint (PFJ) pain syndrome is a commonly reported form of pain in female runners and military personnel. Increased PFJ stress may be a contributing factor. Few studies have examined PFJ stress running with added load. Our purpose was to analyze PFJ stress, PFJ reaction force, quadriceps force, knee flexion angle, and other kinematic and temporospatial variables running with and without a 9 kg load. Nineteen females ran across a force platform with no added load and 9.0 kg weight vest. Kinematic data were collected using 3D motion capture and kinetic data with a force platform. Muscle forces were estimated using a musculoskeletal model, and peak PFJ loading variables were calculated during stance. Multivariate analyses were run on PFJ loading variables and on cadence, step length and foot strike index. Differences were shown in PFJ stress, PFJ reaction force, peak knee flexion angle and quadriceps force. Joint specific kinetic variables increased between 5–16% with added load. PFJ loading variables increased with 9 kg of added load without changes in cadence, step length, or foot strike index compared to no load. Added load appears to increase the PFJ loading variables associated with PFJ pain in running.

Influence of dynamic factors in weight-bearing position on the pathogenesis of medial patellofemoral joint cartilage injuries - a radiological in vivo study

“…PF axial radiographs at different knee exion angles can well re ect the effects of weight-bearing dynamics on the alignment of the anterior PF region in vivo. Although several studies have suggested that the PF joint stress contact surface is mainly centered on the lateral compartment of the PF joint [12,34,35], some studies support the results of weight-bearing position knee dynamics studies that support that the PF joint stresses are on the medial PF surface. The study by Bhushan et al used an in vivo study using weight-bearing position dynamics MRI to understand PF joint movement patterns, and he concluded that the PF joint contact center point and peak strain location during motion is located medial to the femur and patellar cartilage [36].…”

May the force be with you: understanding how patellofemoral joint reaction force compares across different activities and physical interventions—a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The full text of 227 studies was retrieved and screened (figure 2). In total, 71 articles were included in the systematic review 25–95. There were 63 within-subject studies (56 healthy individuals, 7 patellofemoral pain), 1 randomised controlled trial in healthy individuals (online supplemental table 2) and…”

“…We identified 27 studies that reported PFJRF during running 25 26 34 35 38 39 50 52 56–59 61 68 69 74–76 78 80–82 87 90 91 93 94. Pooled peak PFJRF in healthy individuals was 5.2±1.2 BW25 35 38 39 52 56–58 61 68 74 80–82 87 90 94 based on 17 studies and 4.1±0.9 BW in individuals with patellofemoral pain34 38 78 based on three studies during running (figure 3). The average running speed ranged from 2.33 m/s to 4.47 m/s in healthy individuals and 2.77 m/s to 4.00 m/s in individuals with patellofemoral pain.…”

Relationship of anteversion of the femoral neck with patellofemoral pain syndrome in young women not practicing regular physical activity

“…That would be sustained through the mean angulation of women in pain (G1), which is very close to the borderline value of 15 degrees given as normal. In addition to that, biomechanical studies show that an accentuated femoral anteversion is associated with bigger movements of the dynamic valgo, which results in a bigger risk for PFPS 5,6,10,11 . A study 5 used CT measurements to validate Craig's test and found that the femoral neck angulation evaluated by this test may partially be the true anteversion angulation, as other factors may influence its value, even though the test has important clinical significance.…”