Decreased Pulsatile Blood Flow in the Patella in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Jan Näslund, Markus Waldén and Lars-Göran Lindberg

The objective of this study was to investigate whether fllexing the knee joint interferes with the perfusion of the patellar bone in patellofemoral pain syndrome.  22 patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome were examined bilaterally, and 33 subjects with healthy knees served as controls. Pulsatile blood flow in the patella was measured in a resting position with knee flexion of 20° and after passive knee flexion to 90°. The pulsatile blood flow in the patient group decreased after passive knee flexion from 20° to 90° while the response in the control group showed no distinct pattern.

Pulsatile patellar blood flow in patellofemoral pain syndrome patients is markedly reduced when the knee is being flexed, which supports the previous notion of an ischemic mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of this pain syndrome.

The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2007, 35, 1668-1673

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