Evaluation of variables affecting lower extremity alignment in the aetiology of patellofemoral pain syndrome

The patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common knee disorder in a wide range of physically active individuals which, in general, is caused by multiple risk factors affecting the alignment of the patellofemoral joint. The role of many presumed risk factors in the aetiology of PFPS remains however enigmatic. The purpose of this doctoral project was to investigate variables at the ankle and hip joint and within the central nervous system affecting lower extremity alignment, in a search for other possible sources in the aetiology of PFPS. The aims of this doctoral project were therefore threefold. The first aim was to gain a better insight into gait-related intrinsic risk factors for the development of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Two prospective studies were set up to investigate intrinsic risk factors inherent to the rollover pattern of the foot during walking and running. The second aim was to gain a better insight in the relationship between the strength of the muscles around the hip and the frontal plane movement of the knee during a functional closed chain movement. A study was set up to investigate the correlation between the strength of the different hip muscle groups and the frontal plane movement of the knee during a forward lunge movement. The third aim of this doctoral project was to gain a better insight in the working mechanism of the use of braces in the treatment of the patellofemoral pain syndrome. An fMRI study was set up to investigate if there is a detectable difference in brain activity during flexion-extension movement of the knee when additional proprioceptive input is applied at the knee by the application of a knee brace.

Grantor dc:publisher

Ghent University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Year dc:date

2009

Author dc:creator

• Thijs, Youri

Contributors dc:contributor

• Witvrouw, Erik
• Almqvist, Karl

• Medicine and Health Sciences
• gait-related risk factors
• patellofemoral pain
• hip strength
• brain activity

Statement dc:rights

• info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/715403
urn:isbn:9789087560089
https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/715403/file/4335018

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:archive.ugent.be:715403