{"id":{"repo_id":"buffalo","oai_identifier":"oai:ubir.buffalo.edu:10477/79309"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/buffalo/oai:ubir.buffalo.edu:10477/79309","repository":{"repo_id":"buffalo","name":"Buffalo","base_url":"https://ubir.buffalo.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Somatosensory Feedback and Balance in Women with Patellofemoral Pain","abstract":"Ph.D.","abstract_html":"Ph.D.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Smalley, Angela"],"institution":"State University of New York at Buffalo","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Burkard, Robert","Rehabilitation Science"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2019,"date_issued":"2019-04-02T18:41:41Z","date_published":"2019-04-02T18:41:41Z","updated_at":"2026-07-27T19:05:14Z","subjects":["biomechanics","health sciences","medicine"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["Users of works found in University at Buffalo Institutional Repository (UBIR) are responsible for identifying and contacting the copyright owner for permission to reuse. University at Buffalo Libraries do not manage rights for copyright-protected works and cannot assist with permissions.","Copyright retained by author."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10477/79309","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Burkard, Robert","Rehabilitation Science"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Smalley, Angela"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2019-04-02T18:41:41Z","2019","2018-12-20 11:52:37"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["State University of New York at Buffalo"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Text","Dissertation"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["biomechanics","health sciences","medicine"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Users of works found in University at Buffalo Institutional Repository (UBIR) are responsible for identifying and contacting the copyright owner for permission to reuse. University at Buffalo Libraries do not manage rights for copyright-protected works and cannot assist with permissions.","Copyright retained by author."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10477/79309"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Ph.D.","Background: Chronic patellofemoral pain (PFP) may lead to balance impairment due to reduced neuromuscular control. Balance can be enhanced with the use of external somatosensory input, such as through finger contact with a fixed surface and knee orthoses (KOs), which contact the skin and provide compression to the tissue around the knee. KOs may improve balance by enhancing proprioception and postural control. More research is needed to understand the function of neoprene KOs, particularly knee sleeves and patellar straps. Methods: Forty-two women with PFP participated in force plate and accelerometer instrumented static and dynamic balance testing. Static tests consisted of standing with eyes open, eyes closed, and eyes closed with neck extended. Dynamic tests included a step test and a sit to stand test. The effects of finger contact with a fixed surface was investigated while subjects balanced on a foam surface with eyes closed. Subjects completed all tests in a baseline condition as well as while wearing two types of KOs: knee sleeves and patellar straps. Subjects participated in a follow-up survey two weeks after being given the knee sleeves and patellar straps that were used in the balance study. The survey data were analyzed using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods in order to understand the subjects’ perspective on the two types of KOs. Results: Subjects’ balance improved relative to baseline with the use of finger contact when standing on a foam surface with eyes closed. Eyes closed balance on foam also improved with the use of the two types of knee braces. Center of pressure range was reduced relative to baseline with the use of knee sleeves during static balance with eyes closed and neck extended. Center of pressure range was also reduced relative to baseline during the dynamic sit to stand test with the use of both types of KOs. The positive effects of the KOs and finger contact feedback were greatest in subjects with poor baseline balance. Survey results show that subjects had mixed opinions about wearing the knee sleeves and patellar straps. There was no significant difference between the survey results for the two types of KOs. Thematic analysis of the open-ended questions showed that subjects primarily commented about the effectiveness of the KOs for providing symptom relief. The number of positive and negative statements made by each individual was related to the amount of time the subject wore the KOs and the amount of money that subject would be willing to pay for the KOs. Conclusions: Additional sensory input is an effective way to improve balance in women with chronic PFP. Wearing KOs improved the static and dynamic balance and the effects of the KOs were greater in subjects with worse balance at baseline. The two types of KOs may provide different forms of sensory feedback. The targeted compression of the patellar strap may influence the myotatic stretch reflex, while the looser fitting knee sleeve may stimulate cutaneous receptors around the knee. The perspective of patients is helpful for understanding the effectiveness of medical devices such as KOs. Surveys that assess the effectiveness of KOs provide useful information, which could be used to alter future orthoses designs and improve the treatment of PFP."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Somatosensory Feedback and Balance in Women with Patellofemoral Pain"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Burkard, Robert","Rehabilitation Science"],"dc:creator":["Smalley, Angela"],"dc:date":["2019-04-02T18:41:41Z","2019","2018-12-20 11:52:37"],"dc:description":["Ph.D.","Background: Chronic patellofemoral pain (PFP) may lead to balance impairment due to reduced neuromuscular control. Balance can be enhanced with the use of external somatosensory input, such as through finger contact with a fixed surface and knee orthoses (KOs), which contact the skin and provide compression to the tissue around the knee. KOs may improve balance by enhancing proprioception and postural control. More research is needed to understand the function of neoprene KOs, particularly knee sleeves and patellar straps. Methods: Forty-two women with PFP participated in force plate and accelerometer instrumented static and dynamic balance testing. Static tests consisted of standing with eyes open, eyes closed, and eyes closed with neck extended. Dynamic tests included a step test and a sit to stand test. The effects of finger contact with a fixed surface was investigated while subjects balanced on a foam surface with eyes closed. Subjects completed all tests in a baseline condition as well as while wearing two types of KOs: knee sleeves and patellar straps. Subjects participated in a follow-up survey two weeks after being given the knee sleeves and patellar straps that were used in the balance study. The survey data were analyzed using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods in order to understand the subjects’ perspective on the two types of KOs. Results: Subjects’ balance improved relative to baseline with the use of finger contact when standing on a foam surface with eyes closed. Eyes closed balance on foam also improved with the use of the two types of knee braces. Center of pressure range was reduced relative to baseline with the use of knee sleeves during static balance with eyes closed and neck extended. Center of pressure range was also reduced relative to baseline during the dynamic sit to stand test with the use of both types of KOs. The positive effects of the KOs and finger contact feedback were greatest in subjects with poor baseline balance. Survey results show that subjects had mixed opinions about wearing the knee sleeves and patellar straps. There was no significant difference between the survey results for the two types of KOs. Thematic analysis of the open-ended questions showed that subjects primarily commented about the effectiveness of the KOs for providing symptom relief. The number of positive and negative statements made by each individual was related to the amount of time the subject wore the KOs and the amount of money that subject would be willing to pay for the KOs. Conclusions: Additional sensory input is an effective way to improve balance in women with chronic PFP. Wearing KOs improved the static and dynamic balance and the effects of the KOs were greater in subjects with worse balance at baseline. The two types of KOs may provide different forms of sensory feedback. The targeted compression of the patellar strap may influence the myotatic stretch reflex, while the looser fitting knee sleeve may stimulate cutaneous receptors around the knee. The perspective of patients is helpful for understanding the effectiveness of medical devices such as KOs. Surveys that assess the effectiveness of KOs provide useful information, which could be used to alter future orthoses designs and improve the treatment of PFP."],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["http://hdl.handle.net/10477/79309"],"dc:language":["eng"],"dc:publisher":["State University of New York at Buffalo"],"dc:rights":["Users of works found in University at Buffalo Institutional Repository (UBIR) are responsible for identifying and contacting the copyright owner for permission to reuse. University at Buffalo Libraries do not manage rights for copyright-protected works and cannot assist with permissions.","Copyright retained by author."],"dc:subject":["biomechanics","health sciences","medicine"],"dc:title":["Somatosensory Feedback and Balance in Women with Patellofemoral Pain"],"dc:type":["Text","Dissertation"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T19:05:14Z"}