Correlation of rearfoot angle to Q-angle in patellofemoral pain syndrome: a prospective study

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Objective of the study was to evaluate the correlation between rearfoot posture to Q-angle in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a two-year prospective observational study in which all patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome in the age group of 20-30 years were included in the study. The static Q-angle and the rearfoot angles of these subjects were measured and analyzed statistically for their correlation.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> There were sixty patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study. Pearson product moment correlation showed 27% subjects having rearfoot valgus and 73% having rearfoot varus angle. T test showed statistically significant Q-angle for rearfoot varus compared to rearfoot valgus.</p><p class="western"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Rearfoot varus is more commonly associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome. The Q-angle increases in both rearfoot varus and valgus but is significantly more in patients with rearfoot varus. </p>