Article

Recreational runners with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) have been shown to
present altered movement kinematics, muscle activations, and ground reaction
forces (GRF) during running as well as decreased lower limb strength. However,
these variables have never been concurrently evaluated in a specific cohort.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare lower limb control variables
during running in recreational runners with and without PFPS. Lower limb control
during treadmill running under typical training conditions (usual shoes, foot
strike pattern, and speed) was compared between runners with (n=21) and without
(n=20) PFPS using lower limb kinematics, electromyographic (EMG) recordings from
representative muscles (gluteus medius/maximus, quadriceps and soleus), and
vertical GRF. Isometric muscle strength was also evaluated. When comparing all
runners from both groups, no between-group differences were found in variables
commonly associated with PFPS such as peak hip adduction, hip internal rotation,
contralateral pelvic drop, EMG of gluteal and quadriceps muscles, vertical
loading rate, or lower limb strength. However, runners with PFPS showed
significantly higher hip adduction at toe-off, lower excursion in hip adduction
during late-stance, and longer duration of soleus activation. Sub-analyses were
performed for females and for rearfoot strikers (RFS), and revealed that these
subgroups accounted for most of between-group differences in hip adduction
kinematics. Specifically for RFS with PFPS, lower activation of gluteus medius as
well as lower GRF were observed. Our results suggest that deficits reported in
runners with PFPS may vary depending on gender and on foot strike pattern.
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