The relationship of behavioral and psychological traits with pain sensitivity in females with patellofemoral pain: A cross-sectional study

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between behavioral and psychological traits with indicators of central sensitization in female runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP), and to determine if behavioral and psychological traits improve with strength training.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University laboratory.

Participants: Twenty-eight active females (mean age 32 ± 8.1 years) with PFP completed testing at baseline, 8 weeks (post intervention), and 12 weeks.

Main outcome measures: Behavioral and psychological questionnaires included the General Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionairre-9, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-11, and Central Sensitization Inventory. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) measures were also collected. After baseline testing, subjects were instructed in a hip and knee strengthening intervention to be completed twice daily over 8 weeks.

Results: A statistically significant improvement was found at 12 weeks for anxiety (p = .015; ηp (Boling et al., 2010) = 0.099) and kinesiophobia (p = .041; ηp (Boling et al., 2010) = 0.076). There was no significant improvement for depression, catastrophizing, or subjective central sensitization. No significant correlations were found between any of the behavioral and psychological questionnaires with baseline QST variables.

Conclusions: No relationship was found for behavioral and psychological characteristics with QST measures in female runners with persistent PFP.