Knee Pain Study 2025

Does Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) Correlate with Gluteus maximus endurance?

Background: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a very common knee injury accounting

for many patients who present with orthopaedic injuries. There are several treatment methods for

PFPS which are employed based on the varied underlying issues that could result in anterior

knee pain. Among these methods is the need for strength and power in the gluteus maximus

(GMax) muscle group to aid in the reduction or onset of PFPS. Existing research does not speak

much about the importance of GMax endurance and how it may impact the onset of PFPS.

Purpose: This study was designed to determine whether PFPS is linked to gluteus maximus

endurance.

Ethical Considerations: Data that are collected will be deidentified, stored and secured on a

password-protected computer accessed only by the research team. There is minimal risk to

participants and any pain arising will be managed and treated on site.

Approval from Ethics Committee

Location and time frame: Testing will be done on one of the basketball courts at the

Barbados Aquatic Centre located at Wildey Road, Bridgetown, Christ Church, Barbados

The Aquatic Centre is a public access facility. The proposed time frame to complete the

study will be from the 1st of April 2025 to June the 28th 2025.

Objectives

The present study has three objectives.

1. To determine the prevalence of PFPS (anterior Knee pain) in long distance

runners

2. To determine the endurance of GMax (gluteus maximus) muscle in long distance

runners using static squat test performance

3. To determine the relationship between patellofemoral pain and static squat test

performance levels in long distance runners with and without patellofemoral pain

syndrome

Inclusion Criteria

To be included in the study, participants should have the following characteristics:

● Participants should be a man or woman between the ages of 18 and 40 years old.

● Recreational runner (i.e., running greater than 15 km per week; Dierks et al., 2008).

Exclusion Criteria

Persons will be excluded if:

● They had previous knee surgery; this is done to ensure that pain is not associated with

other pathologies.

Sheldon Bateman (researcher)

Phone number: (246) 233-3996

Email: sheldona.rbateman@gmail.com

June 2025