Patellofemoral pain: a contribution considering pain aspects and influence on electromyographic parameters

Author(s)

Marcella Ferraz Pazzinatto

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Presidente Prudente. 2016-05-16.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia. Presidente Prudente
• Defense date: 2016-04-29
• Advisor: Fábio Mícolis de Azevedo

Abstract

As there is no definition about etiological factors of patellofemoral pain (PFP), it is considered an “orthopaedic enigma” and one of musculoskeletal disorders most challenging to manage. More than two decades, researchers have investigated the presence of biomechanics alteration in individuals with PFP during different activities as run, stair deambulation, squatting and jump. The electromyographic (EMG) parameters related to timing and amplitude of activation of vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) muscles are often addressed in studies with PFP. However, the results are controversial and a plausible explanation may be the intermitent characteristic of the symptoms. In other words, at certain times the pain is present and not in others, regardless of the activity that is being developed. It is knowing that recurrent pain may result in dysfunctional analgesic control generating exaggerated responses to painful stimuli (hyperalgesia). Women with FPF present local and widespread hyperalgesia, however, it is unknown how the presence of pain at the moment of evaluation may alter the hyperalgesia. Thus, the overall aims were to analyze how the presence of pain affects hyperalgesia and EMG parameters in women with PFP, moreover, to determine cutoff points to identify the presence of hyperalgesia in women with PFP. EMG parameters were evaluated during stair climbing. EMG parameters, pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) and visual analogue scale of pain (VAS) were collected in two conditions: before and after a patellofemoral joint loading protocol. This protocol aimed to arouse the specific symptoms of PFP and it was composed to 15 stair deambulation with 35% of body mass allocated in a backpack and the rhythm was demarcated by a metronome (96 steps/min). The women presented lower PPTs compared to pain free group. After the protocol, the PPTs around the knee decreased, whereas the PPT at a remote site to the knee not changed in women with PFP. The PPT cutoff points presented good capability to discriminate women with and without PFP. There was no difference in VL and VM onset of activation in presence of pain, however, the VL amplitude increased and VM/VL activation ratio decreased after the patellofemoral joint loading protocol. According to these results, the presence of pain changed the central mechanisms of pain modulation, increasing hyperalgesia at the site of the disorder. The cutoff points can guide clinicians towards identifying the presence of local and widespread hyperalgesia in women with PFP. Thus, clinicians may be able to identify which patients would benefit from non-mechanical interventions focusing on components aimed at pain neuroscience education. Interestingly, the treatments aiming to reduce the imbalance between VM and VL muscles do not seem to be the best option insofar as this parameter did not change in the presence of the main symptom of PFP. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/10839-0 - Influence of pain on electromyographic parameters in subjects with patellofemoral pain syndrome during stair climbing: frequency and time domain
• Grantee: Marcella Ferraz Pazzinatto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master