Patellofemoral pain cluster | PFPS Diagnosis and Assessment

In this post, you will learn 3 diagnostic patellofemoral pain clusters that can help you to diagnose and assess patellofemoral pain.

Cluster 1

Cook et al. (2010) investigated the best combinations of functional tests and situational phenomena and report a positive likelihood ratio of 3.3 and negative likelihood ratio of 0.73 for 2 of 2 positive findings. These findings plus their large confidence intervals can only be given a weak clinical value.

The Clinical findings were pain during muscle contraction and pain during squatting.

Cluster 2

Cook et al. (2010) report a positive likelihood ratio of 4 and negative likelihood ratio of 0.5 for 2 of 3 positive findings. These findings plus their large confidence intervals can only be given a weak clinical value.

The items of the cluster were the following:

• Pain during muscle contraction and/or
• Pain during squatting and/or
• Pain during peripatellar palpation

Cluster 3

Cook et al. (2010) report a positive likelihood ratio of 3.1 and negative likelihood ratio of 0.7 for 3 of 3 positive findings. These findings plus their large confidence intervals can only be given a weak clinical value.

The items of the cluster were the following:

• Pain during muscle contraction
• Pain during squatting
• Pain during kneeling

Other common orthopedic tests to assess for patellofemoral pain syndrome are:

• Decline Step-Down Test
• Clarke’s Sign

Cook, C., Hegedus, E., Hawkins, R., Scovell, F., & Wyland, D. (2010). Diagnostic accuracy and association to disability of clinical test findings associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Physiotherapy Canada, 62(1), 17-24.