Knee physiological parameters in Patellofemoral Pain (Knee cap pain)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into the physiological parameters of knee tissue circulation in Patellofemoral Pain (Knee cap pain)
IRAS ID
157653
Contact name
James Selfe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Central Lancashire
Research summary
Knee cap pain is a common, painful musculoskeletal condition that affects physically active young adults and adolescents. Clinically the condition presents as diffuse pain in front or back of the knee cap exacerbated by activities such as stair climbing, prolonged sitting, squatting and kneeling. Development of knee cap pain is multifactorial and it remains a challenging musculoskeletal entity commonly encountered by clinicians. Therefore, it seems important to subdivide this broad group of patients into different categories with a specific rehabilitation approach. Knee cap pain can be divided into 3 broad categories of Proximal, Local and Distal factors. Local factors include hypoxia, joint position sense, lateral retinacular tightness and hypermobile patella. This project focuses on hypoxia (insufficient oxygen supply), one of the local factors. The literature indicates a potential link between hypoxia and knee cap pain. It has been hypothesized that an initial mechanical deformation of the vascular (blood) supply due to patellofemoral joint malalignment is the primary problem which subsequently leads to hypoxia and knee cap pain. Physiological responses to hypoxia include increased oxygen (O2) supply, hypothermia (low temperature) and disturbance in the cutaneous perception of thermal sensation. Therefore, we propose that knee cap pain patients with knee tissue hypoxia will exhibit altered physiological responses which include increased O2 supply, hypothermia and disturbed thermal, pain thresholds compared to demographically comparable healthy participants and soft tissue injury patients. This may provide us with further evidence for hypoxia as cause for neural pain in knee cap patients. It may suggest putative thresholds for tissue oxygenation, skin temperature and/or thermal sensation that may be useful in determining knee cap patients with an underlying hypoxic cause. This will improve our understanding about the physiology of knee cap pain to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1388
Date of REC Opinion
29 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion