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

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Patellofemoral pain syndrome is an anterior knee pain (or retropatellar), associated to knee joint stress. The risk factors include musculoskeletal disorders that affect the distribution of forces acting on the knee joint, as in the femoral anteversion. The objective of this study was to verify the relationship between the femoral anteversion angle and the patellofemoral pain syndrome in young women who do not practice regular physical activity. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, case-control study. The sample includes 100 women (G1, n=50 -anterior knee pain; G2, n=50 -control group). The instruments applied were the Anterior Knee Pain Score, numerical pain scale, and Craig's test. The groups were compared using the Student's t-test, p<0.05 for significant results (GraphPad Prism 8). RESULTS: The mean age was 21.5±3.45 and 20.9±2.85 years old for G1 and G2, respectively. Mean pain intensity was 4.6±1.97 for G1, with no pain recorded in G2 (p=0.0001). The mean anteversion angle of the femoral neck was 16.2±4.85 degrees in G1 and 15.6±4.87 degrees in G2 (p= 0.566). The average score obtained with the Anterior Knee Pain Score was 81.4±10.46 and 94.8±5.41 points for groups 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: No relationship was found between angulation of the femoral neck and the presence of anterior knee pain, however, a greater functional loss in the group with pain was observed. Relationship of anteversion of the femoral neck with patellofemoral pain syndrome in young women not practicing regular physical activityRelação entre a anteversão de colo do fêmur e a síndrome da dor patelofemoral em mulheres jovens não praticantes de atividade física regular