The effect of patellofemoral pain on functional mobility, activity level, quality of life, and kinesiophobia in elite football players

Background: This study was planned to determine the effect of patellofemoral pain (PFP) on functional mobility, quality of life, and kinesiophobia in elite soccer players. Methods: Screening was conducted among 125 football players aged 14-19 in the U14-U18 infrastructure football team of professional Tümosan Konyaspor club in Konya province, and 30 football players who had PFP between February-April 2024 were included in the study. Pain symptom severity at rest and during performance-based functional mobility tests was assessed with Patellofemoral Syndrome Pain Severity Scale (PSS), functional evaluation with Kujala Patellofemoral score (KPS), activity level with Tegner Activity Level (TAS), functional disability status with Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale (LDSS), daily life activity with Knee Test for Daily Living Activities (KOS-ADL), kinesiophobia was evaluated using the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TSK). Results: PFP was evaluated with PSS. There was a weak negative correlation between PSS and KPS (r=-0.442, p=0.014), a moderate negative correlation between PSS and TAS (r=-0.503, p=0.005), a weak negative correlation between PSS and LDSS (r=-0.465, p=0.010), a moderately negative significant correlation between PSS and KOS-ADL (r=-0.532, p=0.003) were found. No relationship could be determined between PSS and TSK or complaint duration. Multiple regression analysis determined that activity level (β=-0.484, p=0.011) and daily living activity (β=-0.516, p=0.007) affected patellofemoral pain. Discussion: It has been determined that PFP affects functional mobility, activity level, and quality of life in elite football players and has no effect on kinesiophobia. The lack of a relationship with kinesiophobia is thought to be because the pain intensity of the athletes participating in our study was not high.