Sheeba Joseph, MD

In this cross-sectional study by Motealleh and colleagues, the authors identified a significant difference in trunk postural control between women with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) and control-matched women without the diagnosis. Based on these results, the authors propose including trunk postural control exercises in rehabilitation programs for patients with PFPS.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence regarding an association between proximal muscular control/characteristics and PFPS. Unlike prior studies evaluating postural control via standing tasks that are therefore unable to differentiate from lower extremity pathology vs. truncal pathology, the authors here isolate truncal pathology with a custom unstable sitting task. This provides researchers and clinicians with more insight to the multifactorial nature of evaluating and treating patients with PFPS.

This study was limited to women and therefore, is not be generalizable. Additionally, as a cross-sectional study, no causality can be concluded between trunk postural control and PFPS or vice versa. Finally, the study did not elucidate whether the difference in trunk postural control stemmed from a proprioceptive or sensory deficit vs. a muscular deficit as data pertaining to these variables were not collected. This information would aid potential treatment approaches.