PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS, BIOMECHANICS, AND PERFORMANCE DURING JUMPING TASKS IN PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN: INVESTIGATING HOW PATIENT EDUCATION CAN HELP UNDERSTAND THEIR INTERACTION

• Grant number: 25/05975-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: January 04, 2026
• End date: May 03, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Mícolis de Azevedo
• Grantee: Ana Flavia Balotari Botta
• Supervisor: Neal Robert Glaviano
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Connecticut (UCONN), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/15990-8 - Development of a patient knowledge questionnaire for patellofemoral pain and a randomized clinical trial investigating education compared to placebo for individuals with patellofemoral pain, BP.DR

Abstract

Individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP) exhibit impaired performance and altered biomechanics during demanding tasks like jumping. Physical factors alone do not fully explain these deficits, suggesting a role for psychological and behavioral factors. Some individuals may consciously or unconsciously modify their performance or biomechanics to manage pain. While patient education has been proposed to address psychological and behavioral factors, its impact on jump biomechanics and performance remains unclear. The aims of this study are to: 1) compare self-reported pain, psychological factors, performance, and biomechanics during jumping between individuals with and without PFP before and after a video-based educational approach; 2) investigate the extent to which self-reported pain and psychological factors are related to performance, and biomechanics during jumping, including how changes in these outcomes are interrelated. A total of 28 individuals with PFP and 28 individuals without PFP will be recruited at the University of Connecticut. Self-reported pain, psychological factors (kinesiophobia, fear of movement, pain catastrophizing and self-efficacy), performance, and 3D trunk, hip, knee, and ankle biomechanics will be assessed during the Single-Legged Hop for Distance and Single-Legged Drop Vertical Jump Test. Following this, individuals will watch an educational video and then will be reassessed. Generalized linear models (GzLM) will be used to analyze group-by-time differences, while linear regression models will be used to assess the relationships between self-reported pain, psychological factors and jump performance/biomechanics and their changes.