Comparison of Lower Extremity Inter-Segmental Coordination Variability and Muscle ‎Functionality‏ ‏in Athletes with and without Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome During Running

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Sports Biomechanics, Faculty of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, ‎Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Sports Biomechanics, Faculty of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, ‎Bu‏-‏Ali‏-‏Sina University, Hamadan, Iran

Abstract

Propose:
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is a common ailment among runners and those leading active lifestyles. This study aimed to explore the differences in the coordination variability and muscle functionality in the lower limbs of professional athletes afflicted with PFPS compared to their healthy counterparts during running.
Methods:
Eighteen male athletes with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) and 18 healthy male athletes participated in this study. Data recording was conducted using 6 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensors placed on both thighs, shins, and feet, along with surface electrodes on the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and gluteus medius muscles. The coordination variability and electrical activity of the lower limbs of each participant were examined while running at a self-selected speed on a treadmill for 21 minutes, during both the stance and swing phases at the test's beginning, and only during the stance phase at the test's end. An independent t-test was utilized for statistical analysis (p≥0.05).
Results:
Coordination variability between sagittal thigh-sagittal shin, sagittal thigh-transverse shin, transverse thigh-transverse shin, frontal thigh-transverse shin, sagittal shin-transverse foot, and transverse shin-sagittal foot was lower in the PFPS group compared to the healthy group during the stance phase (p≥0.05), and sagittal shin-transverse foot coordination variability was lower during the swing phase (p=0.001). The activation timing of the vastus medialis and gluteus medius muscles in the PFPS group was delayed compared to the healthy group (p=0.005 and p=0.002, respectively) and remained active for a longer duration (p=0.007 and p=0.001, respectively), with less overall activity (p=0.001).
Conclusion:
The research indicates that the performance of the muscles studied may be a contributing factor to the reduced coordination variability observed in the lower limbs.

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