Patellofemoral pain syndrome does not alter baropodometric characteristics during gait in ramps and stairs

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate baropodometric characteristics during the stage of gait support in stairs and ramps of subjects with and without Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). Fifty-five female individuals participated: 24 with PFPS (PFPS group - PFPSG) and 31 clinically healthy (clinically healthy group - CHG), matched for age, height, and body mass. Peak pressure, contact area, and contact time were evaluated in six plantar regions (medial forefoot, lateral forefoot, midfoot, medial rearfoot, central rearfoot, and lateral rearfoot) by the Pedar-X system, during four functional activities (climbing up and down stairs and a ramp). The order of performance of evaluations was randomized. The intensity of the pain of the subjects before and after activities was evaluated by Visual Numeric Scale (VNS). Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics (Independent t-independent, Anova 2x6, and Wilcoxon tests), with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. No differences were found between groups in the peak pressure, contact area, and contact time on the six plantar regions analyzed during the four functional activities. There was pain exacerbation of the subjects after the four functional activities (p = 0.01). Thus, the results of the present study, considering the experimental conditions used, suggest that there is a pattern of behavior regarding baropodometric variables (peak pressure, contact area, and contact time) that differentiates subjects with and without PFPS during the activities of climbing up and down stairs and the ramp.