[Effects of foot orthoses on knee pain and function of female athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome]

Foot orthoses are a common intervention for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome but, limited information is available in the effects of foot orthoses on knee pain and function of athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome. The aim of our study was to determinate the effects of foot orthoses on reducing pain and increasing function of athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome who demonstrated excessive foot pronation. 418 female athletes between 15. 35 years old in running, soccer, volleyball, fencing and mountain climbing were examinated. Among these athletes 25 subjects with patellofemoral pain syndrome had excessive foot pronation. The severity of pain was measured by VAS [visual analog scale] and their function were measured by KOOS [knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score]. Full length firm foot orthoses were given to athletes which at least 8 hours during the day was used. After 2 weeks: pain by VAS and function by KOOS were evaluated. After 6 weeks these variables were measured again. The results of analysis of variance in repeated measures indicated a statistically significant improvement in pain by VAS after 2 weeks [p value=0.001] and after 6 weeks [p value=0.001]. Improvement of function on KOOS were statistically significant at 5 subscales: reduction of symptoms after 2 weeks was not prominent but after 6 weeks was significant [p value=0.001] and reduction of pain after 2 weeks [p value=0.001], reduction of pain after 6 weeks [p value=0.001] and improvement of ADL after 2 weeks [p value=0.004] and after 6 weeks [p value = 0.001] and improvement of sport activities after 2 weeks [p value=0.012] and after 6 weeks [p value=0.001] and improvement in QOL after 6 weeks [p value=0.001]. Our results confirmed a significant improvement in reducing pain and increasing function of female athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome and excessive foot pronation after foot orthoses

[Patellofemoral pain syndrome in Iranian female athletes]

Background: patellofemoral pain syndrome [PFPS] is the most common overuse syndrome in athletes. it is one of the causes of anterior knee pain in athletic population who come to the sports medicine clinic. patellofemoral is more common among female athletes especially adolescents and young adults. Symptoms include: persistent pain behind the patella or peri patella. pain increases on ascending and descending stairs and squatting and prolonged sitting. the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of PFPS in Iranian female athletes

Methods: 418 female athletes aged 15 - 35 years were examined in five sports: Soccer [190], volleyball [103], running [42], fencing [45] and mountain climbing [38]. The numbers of athletes who had anterior knee pain that increased in descending and ascending stairs and squatting, having no other causes of anterior knee pain such as ligament instability, bursitis, meniscal injury, tendonitis and arthritis was determined

Results: 26/190 [13.68 %] soccer players, 21/103 [20.38 %] volleyball players, 7/42 [16.66 %] runners, 6/45 [13.33 %] fencers and 10/38 [26.31 %] mountain climbers had patellofemoral pain

Conclusion: among the 418 female athletes who were evaluated 70 had PFPS. mountain climbers were the most common athletes with PFPS followed by volleyball players and runners