The Connection Between Knee Movements and Pain/Function in Knee Disorders: A Review

Summary:

A recent review study looked at how changes in knee movements affect pain and function in people with knee disorders. They examined different research studies that tested non-surgical treatments for knee problems and measured the effects on knee and hip movements during daily tasks, along with improvements in pain and function.

After going through many records, the researchers found 48 relevant studies. Among people with patellofemoral pain, they discovered that changes in knee and hip movements were connected to improvements in pain and function. However, there wasn’t a significant relationship between knee movements sideways and pain/function, nor between hip movements sideways and function. For people with knee osteoarthritis and anterior cruciate ligament injuries, the evidence was limited and unclear, making it difficult to understand how knee movements affected pain and function.

In conclusion, the study showed that for people with patellofemoral pain, changes in movement were related to better pain and function. But for those with knee osteoarthritis or anterior cruciate ligament injuries, more research is needed to understand how knee movements impact pain and function.

Reference:

Nunes GS, de Moraes WSLA, de Souza Sampaio V, et al. Are Changes in Dynamic Knee Movement Control Related to Changes in Pain or Function in People With Knee Disorders? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2023 Jul;0(7):1-14. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2023.11628.