Patients with Patellofemoral Pain Exhibiting Decrease Vertical Ground Reaction Force Compared to Healthy Individuals...

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) is implicated in knee osteoarthritis development.
• Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common condition affecting knee function.
• Understanding VGRF in PFP patients is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze VGRF during weight-bearing tasks in PFP patients.
• To compare VGRF components between PFP patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Searched databases (Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar) from Sep 2020 to Jun 2021.
• Measured passive impact (Fz1) and active propulsion (Fz2) VGRF components.
• Assessed study quality using the Down and Black index; calculated effect size via standardized mean difference.

Main Results:

• Nine articles were included (5 high quality, 3 medium quality, 1 low quality).
• PFP patients exhibited reduced impact (moderate effect size) and propulsion (small effect size) compared to healthy individuals.
• VGRF in PFP is influenced by psychological, behavioral, and biomechanical factors.

Conclusions:

• PFP patients demonstrate altered VGRF patterns during weight-bearing activities.
• Psychosomatic therapeutic interventions may offer long-term effectiveness in PFP rehabilitation.
• Further research into the interplay of factors influencing VGRF in PFP is warranted.