Relationship between lower extremity muscle and tendon morphology and physical performance in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome

Relationship Between Lower Extremity Muscle and Tendon Morphology and Physical Performance in Patients with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Introduction: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFAS) is the most common cause of anterior knee pain that occurs around the patella after knee overload during flexion and extension. It is blamed as the most common cause of chronic knee pain especially in young people and is more common in women. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of muscle and tendon thickness on pain and functionality in individuals with PFAS and to investigate the relationship between muscle-tendon thickness and pain and physical performance. Materials and Methods: Eighty patients between 18-45 years of age with no history of chronic disease who admitted to Hacettepe University Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with anterior knee pain and diagnosed as PFAS by physical examination were included. Age, sex, height, weight, body mass index and smoking status of the patients were recorded by questioning. Muscle and tendon thicknesses were measured by USG and pain was evaluated by VAS. Pain and functionality were investigated with WOMAC. 6-meter walking test and 5-repeat sit to stand test were used as physical performance measurements. Results: 42 (52.5%) of the patients were male and 38 (47.5%) were female. The mean age was 32.11 ± 7.08 years. 46 (57.5%) of the patients were smoking and 34 (42.5%) were not smoking. In our study, there was a negative correlation between RF muscle thickness and WOMAC total (r = -0.227, p = 0.042) and WOMAC pain (r = -0.233, p = 0.028) scores. There was a negative correlation between QT thickness and 5-repeat sit to stand test. (r = -0.247, p = 0.044). Conclusion: There is a relationship between muscle-tendon thickness and physical performance, pain and functionality in patients with PFPS. In our study, a relationship was found between muscle-tendon morphology parameters which were evaluated by ultrasonography and physical performance, pain and functionality. Further ultrasonographic studies are needed to determine the relationship between pain, functional status and physical performance in patients diagnosed with PFAS.