Patella-Femoral Pain Syndrome among Young Dancers

Background and Aims: Very little is known about patella-femoral pain syndrome (PFPS) among young dancers. The aims of the present study were to determine the extent to which factors such as lower extremity and spinal characteristics are involved with PFPS, and to identify predicting variables for its development in young dancers.

Methods: A group of 271 dancers with PFPS aged 10-16 years, and 271 non-injured control dancers matched by age, height and weight, were screened for the current study. All dancers were screened for morphometrically profile, dance discipline, manifestation of anatomical anomalies, laxity of the patella and joint`s range of motion (ROM) at the spine, hips, knees, and ankle/foot joints. Regression analyses were carried out separately for young dancers (10-11 years), adolescent dancers (12-14 years) and mature dancers (15-16 years).

Results: The following factors were found to be significantly associated with PFPS: 1) among young dancers, limited hip abduction ROM and limited lower back and hamstring ROM; 2) among adolescent dancers, limited ankle dorsiflexion ROM, presence of hind foot-varum and hypermobility of patella at 30˚ flexion; 3) among mature dancers, presence of lordosis, limited ankle plantar-flexion ROM, and limited hip internal rotation ROM.

Conclusions: Dancers with PFPS are more likely to have limited joint ROM and accompanying anatomical anomalies than dancers of same age cohorts who do not have PFPS. Identification of lower extremity and spinal alignment, mobility of the patella and joint ROM that is associated with the development of PFPS may bear an important impact on dancers` training and rehabilitation programs following PFPS.