PREVALENCE OF ACTIVITY RELATED PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.
Keywords:
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, PFPS, Anterior Knee Pain, Kujala Anterior Knee.Abstract
Background: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is a very frequent cause of anterior knee pain in young adults and is often linked with physical activities like running, squatting, climbing and sitting for extended periods. The effect on daily functioning and quality of life despite being a major problem, little data exists on its prevalence among university students in Pakistan.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of activity-related Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) among university students.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 376 university students using a nonprobability convenience sampling technique. Participants aged 19–30 years from both genders were included. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used to summarize the findings.
Results: A total of 376 students participated in the study, including 265 (70.5%) males and 111 (29.5%) females. The majority of participants (40.7%) were aged 23–26 years. Based on the Kujala AKPS, 150 (39.9%) participants had excellent knee function, 36 (9.6%) had good knee function, 65 (17.3%) had fair knee function, and 125 (33.2%) had poor knee function, indicating a substantial burden of activity-related PFPS. Regarding symptom duration, 156 (41.5%) participants reported symptoms for more than three months, 118 (31.4%) for 1–3 months, and 102 (27.1%) for less than one month. The mean duration score was 2.14 ± 0.817.
Conclusion: The study clearly showed a prevalence of activity-related PFPS among university students at KUST. Many participants had difficulties with their knees and symptoms that lasted longer than 3 months. The results highlight the need for early screening, awareness campaigns, preventive measures, and timely physiotherapy treatment to mitigate the impact of PFPS and enhance the functional health of students.
