TRANSVERSE AND FRONTAL PLANE LOWER LIMB 'KINEMATICS IN FEMALE RUNNERS WITH PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN

Abstract

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), one of the most common disorders in running has been shown to affect females more frequently than males. The aetiology of patellofemoral pain syndrome is not clear but abnormat hip and ,knee frontal and transverse plane motion are commonly associated with the disorder. This study investigated transverse and frontal plane kinematics and kinetics in female runners symptomatic and asymptomatic for patellofemoral pain. The findings of this study did not reflect the common clinically held association between excessive femoral intemal rotation, internal tibial rotation and knee valgus in runners with PFPS. The PFPS subjects displayed greater external hip and external knee rotation compared with asymptomatic runners. The results have identified a different set of mechanical conditions which may affect patella tracking.