65
Views
2
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Article

Limb support in response to balance provocations in women with patellofemoral pain

, &
Pages 97-103 | Received 03 May 2008, Published online: 13 Aug 2009
 

Abstract

Chronic pain may modulate motor strategies not only in the presence of pain but also in pain-free periods. Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is characterized by intermittent periods with knee pain. The aim of this study was to examine whether long-term pain would affect lower limb support and trunk movement in unpredictable external and predictable internal balance perturbations in women with PFP with no acute pain, compared with healthy controls. We hypothesized that long-term pain would induce compensatory strategies to minimize joint loading in the affected knee and that healthy control subjects without any knee problems would rely equally on both limbs. We also hypothesized that handed- and footedness would influence trunk rotation and movement of the body's centre of mass in predictable perturbations and would be influenced by unloading of the affected limb in PFP. The results showed that controls relied more on the preferred leg and that PFP subjects avoided loading on the affected limb, even when it was preferred, except during unpredictable perturbations where a symmetrical postural response appeared to override limb protection or the habitual unloading. Thus, compensatory strategies in PFP subjects become well established in the motor behaviour and can thus be identified even in pain-free periods.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 65.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 175.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.