Association between patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) and muscle tightness a cross- sectional study

Abstract

Background: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is characterized by peripatellar or retro patellar pain, as a result of changes in the physical and biochemical components of the patellofemoral joint. The main contributory factor being the load on the patellofemoral joint. The change in the flexibility of lower limb muscles is one of the factors for developing PFPS. Purpose: The aim is to find the association between muscle tightness (hamstring, quadriceps, illiotibial band, gastrocnemius, and quadratus lumborum) and PFPS on affected and unaffected sides. Study design: A cross -sectional study Methods: Subjects with PFPS were included with age 18 to 40 years having anterior, retro or peripatellar non-traumatic pain at least for a duration of 6weeks. Active knee extension test for hamstring length, ely test for rectus femoris, modified obers test for ITB length, weight-bearing lunge test for gastrocnemius, and QL muscle length were measured to assess the presence or absence of muscle tightness. A Chi Square test and phi crammer's v criteria was used to check the association and strength of the association respectively. Results: A significant strength of association was found between rectus femoris tightness (Phi-Crammer’s V =.632 p