E. Harrison et al., DEVELOPMENT OF A CLINICAL TOOL AND PATIENT QUESTIONNAIRE FOR EVALUATION OF PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME PATIENTS, Clinical journal of sport medicine, 6(3), 1996, pp. 163-170
Objective: To develop an evaluation tool for patellofemoral pain syndr
ome (PFPS) patients. Design: Exploratory, descriptive content validati
on study. Participants: Convenience sample, three groups of clinicians
: 15 sports physical therapists, 9 sports medicine physicians, and 10
physical therapists and physicians with limited experience with PFPS.
Selection based on specialization qualifications and experience with P
FPS patients. Description of tests: Content validation questionnaire t
o determine importance of clinical outcomes in determining change in P
FPS patients. Using IO-cm visual analogue scales, reviewers rated the
importance of five domains and rated the importance of twenty-one clin
ical tests; using a categorical scale, determined appropriateness and
clarity of potential patient questionnaire items. Main results: Correl
ation values indicated significant correlation (p < 0.01) between pain
and functional limitations (r = 0.68) and activity and functional lim
itations (I = 0.67), indicating that functional limitation may not be
a unique component, but is integrated with pain and activity. A set of
five pain questions, twelve function questions and six activity quest
ions was developed. No statistical differences (p < 0.05) between the
three groups of clinicians for the majority of clinical tests. Statist
ical differences (p < 0.05) between the three groups for rating of imp
ortance of flexibility of hip flexor and flexibility of gastrocnemius-
soleus muscle groups, knee swelling, and radiographs. Good internal co
nsistency among the 21 clinical tests (Cronbach's alpha = 0.84). The f
ive top rated tests considering mean score values and standard deviati
ons: lower extremity alignment, patellar orientation, patellar mobilit
y, and flexibility of rectus femoris and tensor fasciae latae muscle g
roups. Conclusions: The results provide evidence of content validity f
or the components of PFPS evaluation investigated. The findings provid
e a basis for design of an evaluation tool for PFPS patients consistin
g of patient self-report questionnaire items and clinical tests.