Knee flexor strength, rate of torque development and flexibility in women and men with patellofemoral pain: Relationship with pain and the performance in the single leg bridge test

• Published in: Physical therapy in sport Vol. 50; pp. 166 - 172
• Main Authors: Ducatti, Matheus Henrique Maiolini, Waiteman, Marina Cabral, Botta, Ana Flávia Balotari, Lopes, Helder dos Santos, Glaviano, Neal Robert, Azevedo, Fábio Mícolis de, Briani, Ronaldo Valdir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2021; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Anterior knee pain; Assessment; Australian football; Clinical test; Flexibility; Hamstring; Investigations; Knee; Pain; Physical therapy; Sports medicine; Women; Brazil; Clinical test; Hamstring; Anterior knee pain; Assessment
• ISSN: 1466-853X; 1873-1600
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.05.006

To investigate the relationship between: (1) knee flexor strength, rate of torque development (RTD), and flexibility with pain level; (2) knee flexor strength and RTD with the performance in the single leg bridge test (SLBT) in women and men with patellofemoral pain (PFP). Cross-sectional. Laboratory-based study. 39 women and 36 men with PFP. Knee flexor strength, RTD, and flexibility; performance in the SLBT, current, and worst pain level. Moderate to strong significant negative relationships were identified between the current pain level with knee flexor strength (r = −0.57 to −0.34) and flexibility (r = −0.44 to −0.35); and between knee flexor strength and RTD with the performance in the SLBT (r = 0.34 to 0.57) in women and men with PFP. Knee flexor RTD was not related to any pain level and no significant relationships were identified between the worst pain level with knee flexor strength and flexibility in women and men with PFP. Our results support the potential value of assessing knee flexor strength and flexibility in women and men with PFP. The SLBT may be a useful tool to assess knee flexor muscle capacity in individuals with PFP in a clinical setting. •Clinicians should consider knee flexor strength and flexibility when assessing women and men with patellofemoral pain•The single leg bridge test may be a useful tool to assess knee flexor muscle capacity in individuals with patellofemoral pain