Analysis of the patellar-femoral pain in students of physical education

Abstract

The knee articulation is one of the largest and most complex articulations in the body, being subjected to a variety of lesions that alter its function performance. The patellar-femoral pain syndrome is known as one of the most commons affections, especially aggravated when going up and down stairs, keeling, staying seated for a prolonged period of time and walking in steeped places. The cause for the patellar-femoral pain is not totally understood, but many factors have been proposed, including the delayed effect of trauma and overload, lack of flexibility of the ischium-tibial bones, ilium-tibial tract, hip flexors, and bad alignment of the inferior members. The objective of this work was to verify the prevalence of patellar-femoral pain and its correction with the presence of postural alterations in the knees of physical education students from the 1st and 4th years of college. In order to carry out this study, a structured questionnaire with objective questions was given. After that, the students were submitted to a brief physical examination, which was consisted of flexibility of the ischium-tibial bones assessment, the postural assessment of the knee, and two tests for the determination of the patella’s articulators’ surfaces state and the femur’s trochlear groove. With the methodology used it was verified a greater prevalence of patellar-femoral pain in the students of the 1st year, 41.25%. The postural alterations of the knee were very frequent in both groups, the internal rotation being the most common one.