Abstract
Background: Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) is considered one of the most common forms of knee pain. Increased frontal-plane knee motion during dynamic activities may play a role in the development of PFP due to alterations in joint loading at the patellofemoral joint and increased stress on the peri-articular structures of the patella.
Aim of Study: To determine if there is an alteration of the frontal plane projection angle during step down test in subjects with and without Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS).
Subjects and Methods: Forty participants, with age be-tween 18-35 years, 20 PFPS and 20 healthy control group. FPPA angle for both groups was measured by digital video camera and was analyzed by kinovea software for motion analysis during performing Step down test.
Results: There was no significant difference in the median value of FPPA between the affected side in the PFPS group and the healthy group (p=0.72).
Conclusion: PFPS is not linked to altered FFPA during step down task, this finding suggests that assessment of lower extremity kinematics in clinical practice need 3-D motion analysis not only one plane assessment.