Date of Completion

Spring 5-1-2026

Thesis Advisor(s)

Neal Glaviano

Honors Major

Exercise Science

Disciplines

Kinesiotherapy | Medical Specialties | Physiotherapy | Sports Sciences

Abstract

Context: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a highly prevalent condition (22.7% in general population) that significantly impacts the quality of life of those who suffer from it. However, there is no gold standard test to diagnose it yet, leading to inconsistencies with treatment as well as delayed intervention. Rate of torque development (RTD) is a neuromuscular measure that has shown strong connections to PFP.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the diagnostic ability of RTD for PFP.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Laboratory.

Participants: Thirty-five individuals with PFP (24 males and 11 females, 22.7 ± 3.7 years, 1.67 ± 0.1 m, 73.2 ± 15.8 kg, symptom duration: 36.8 ± 39.6 months) and twenty-seven pain-free individuals (11 males and 16 females, 20.7 ± 3.0 years, 1.6 ± 0.09 m, 64.1 ± 12.7 kg) participated in this study.

Main Outcome Measures: Hip abduction, hip extension, and knee extension RTD were assessed using hand-held dynamometry from 0-30%, 0-60%, and 0-90% of peak torque.

Results: Of the included measures, only hip abduction RTD from 0-30% and 0-60% of peak torque, hip extension from 0-30% of peak torque, and knee extension from 0-60% of peak torque reached the threshold for acceptable diagnostic ability, with hip abduction through 30% of peak torque demonstrating excellent diagnostic ability.

Conclusions: Hip abduction RTD through 30% of peak torque demonstrated the greatest diagnostic ability of all the measures. The RTD cutoff values determined in this study provide objective measures for clinicians to support their PFP diagnoses.

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