Factors associated with the development of patellofemoral pain in the general adult population: a 2-year multicenter prospective observational study

• Grant number: 23/11083-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Ronaldo Valdir Briani
• Grantee: Helder dos Santos Lopes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/06403-9 - A four-year, two-phase, multicenter prospective study of the incidence, associated factors, and efficacy of a prevention program for patellofemoral pain: the adult-PFP cohort, AP.GR
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/02950-0 - Are there differences in physical and non-physical features between runners and non-runners with and without patellofemoral pain?, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common and chronic musculoskeletal disorder characterized by the presence of pain around or behind the patella during daily and functional activities. PFP affects approximately 23% of the general adult population and accounts for 11% to 17% of all knee pain assessed in general practice. PFP is associated with worse quality of life, subjective and objective function, and may increase the occurrence of anxiety and depression by six times. PFP has also been suggested as a possible precursor of patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Despite this alarming evidence, the incidence of PFP and the factors associated with its development remain underevaluated in the general adult population. This multicenter prospective observational study aims to determine the factors associated with the development of PFP in the general adult population. Participants will be recruited from three different cities in Brazil (Presidente Prudente, Sao Carlos and Sao Paulo). Asymptomatic individuals will be followed for 2 years to determine the occurrence of PFP. Demographic, biomechanical, muscle strength, physical activity level, pain threshold and psychological factors will be obtained and used in a Classification and Regression Tree (CART) model to determine predictors of PFP occurrence and their interaction. (AU)