Kunene SH1,2, Ramklass S2, Taukobong NP3
1University of the Witwatersrand, Physiotherapy, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, 3Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
Background: Anterior knee pain (AKP) is the most common symptom among many runners. Due to poor rehabilitation services in under-resourced communities, runners report with poorer health outcomes.
Purpose: To determine the presence of AKP and its risk factors among runners in under-resourced communities.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a sample of 183 participants aged between 13 and 55. Data collection tools included: Kujala questionnaire to determine the presence of AKP, newly developed questionnaire to screen for extrinsic risk factors and 12 physical tests to screen for the modifiable intrinsic risk factors. The SPSS was used to obtain descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: 40% of participants presented with AKP. AKP was associated with age (X2 = 6.484, p =.04) and running experience (X2 = 8.389, p =.04). The following risk factors contributed significantly to AKP: tight hamstrings (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02; p =.05); tight iliotibial band (OR = 1.1; p =.05); weak quadriceps (OR =.15; p =.04); weak hip muscles (OR = 1.13; p =.00) and patellar tilt abnormalities (OR = 1.33; p =.01), years of running experience (OR = 1.72, p =.05), endurance training (OR = 1.83, p =.05) & downhill running (OR = 1.88 , p =.04).
Conclusion(s): A high prevalence of AKP and various risk factors were found among runners in under-resourced communities.These findings suggest that management of AKP should take into consideration the effect of these identified risk factors to improve management outcomes. A community-based rehabilitation approach should be considered, given the lack of resources in low socio-economic communities.
Implications: The results from this study make explicit the risk factors associated with AKP, particularly in runners from under-resourced communities. These are important considerations in the development of rehabilitation programmes to manage AKP.
Keywords: Anterior knee pain, Runners, Under-resourced communities
Funding acknowledgements: University of the Witwatersrand & University of KwaZulu-Natal
Purpose: To determine the presence of AKP and its risk factors among runners in under-resourced communities.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a sample of 183 participants aged between 13 and 55. Data collection tools included: Kujala questionnaire to determine the presence of AKP, newly developed questionnaire to screen for extrinsic risk factors and 12 physical tests to screen for the modifiable intrinsic risk factors. The SPSS was used to obtain descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: 40% of participants presented with AKP. AKP was associated with age (X2 = 6.484, p =.04) and running experience (X2 = 8.389, p =.04). The following risk factors contributed significantly to AKP: tight hamstrings (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02; p =.05); tight iliotibial band (OR = 1.1; p =.05); weak quadriceps (OR =.15; p =.04); weak hip muscles (OR = 1.13; p =.00) and patellar tilt abnormalities (OR = 1.33; p =.01), years of running experience (OR = 1.72, p =.05), endurance training (OR = 1.83, p =.05) & downhill running (OR = 1.88 , p =.04).
Conclusion(s): A high prevalence of AKP and various risk factors were found among runners in under-resourced communities.These findings suggest that management of AKP should take into consideration the effect of these identified risk factors to improve management outcomes. A community-based rehabilitation approach should be considered, given the lack of resources in low socio-economic communities.
Implications: The results from this study make explicit the risk factors associated with AKP, particularly in runners from under-resourced communities. These are important considerations in the development of rehabilitation programmes to manage AKP.
Keywords: Anterior knee pain, Runners, Under-resourced communities
Funding acknowledgements: University of the Witwatersrand & University of KwaZulu-Natal
Topic: Sport & sports injuries
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of KwaZulu-Natal
Ethics committee: Biomedical Ethics Research Committee
Ethics number: BFC377/15
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
