Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29324820›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2018

Incidence and prevalence of patellofemoral pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Benjamin E Smith, James Selfe, Damian Thacker, Paul Hendrick, Marcus Bateman, Fiona Moffatt, Michael Skovdal Rathleff, Toby O Smith, Pip Logan

8 registry-linked trialsAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 8 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 230 papers, 14 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
230citing papers in PubMed, 14 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04624542 unknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2020, after this paper: background citation

Relation Between Femoral Nerve Conduction Velocity and Its Mechanosensitivity Changes Among Individual With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Typeobservational_patient_registrySponsorCairo UniversityRan2020 to 2021Enrolled60ConditionsPatello Femoral SyndromeArmsElectromyographic device
NCT05261100 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2021, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Routine Physical Therapy With and Without Core Stability Exercises in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome -a Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of LahoreRan2021 to 2022Enrolled56ConditionsPatellofemoral Pain SyndromeArmsCore stability exercises, Conventional Physical Therapy
NCT05576064 completednot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Is Gait Analysis for Proposed Rotational Deformities an Appropriate Use of Resources

TypeobservationalSponsorRobert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District NHS TrustRan2023 to 2025Enrolled40ConditionsLower Limb Deformity, Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome, Patellofemoral Pain, RotationArmsGait analysis
NCT05617911 naterminatednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Clinical Comparison of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Outcomes After Blood Flow Restriction Therapy

TypeinterventionalSponsorGaylord Hospital, IncRan2022 to 2023Enrolled1ConditionsPatellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Anterior Knee Pain SyndromeArmsBlood Flow Restriction Cuff, Sham and standard of Care Therapy
NCT05750212 recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Musculoskeletal and Pelvic Floor Health in Female Chronic Overlapping Pelvic Pain Conditions (The MSK-PELVIC Study)

TypeobservationalSponsorLoyola UniversityRan2023 to 2025Enrolled208ConditionsChronic Pelvic Pain SyndromeArmsTone, Tenderness, Contraction, Relaxation, Electromyography
NCT06197958 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Comparison of Concentric-eccentric Exercises in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

TypeinterventionalSponsorRiphah International UniversityRan2023 to 2024Enrolled24ConditionsPatello Femoral Syndrome, Patellofemoral Pain, Knee Pain ChronicArmseccentric exercises, concentric exercises
NCT06502795 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Quadriceps Strengthening Under Limited Range of Motion Compared to Patient-guided Range of Motion on Pain, Kinesiophobia and Function in Individuals with Patellofemoral Pain: a Randomized Clinical Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversidade Federal do CearaRan2024 to 2026Enrolled110ConditionsPatellofemoral Pain SyndromeArmsProtected Range Quadriceps Strengthening group, Patient-Guided Range Quadriceps Strengthening group
NCT07382037 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Efficacy of Whole-Body Vibration in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorPamukkale UniversityRan2026 to 2026Enrolled40ConditionsPatellofemoral Pain, PFPArmsWhole body vibration, Sham Whole Body Vibration
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

230 citing papers in PubMed, 14 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  6. Dutch multidisciplinary guideline on anterior knee pain: Patellofemoral pain and patellar tendinopathy.Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA · 2025
    Guideline
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  16. Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Individualized Physical Therapy on Pain and Function in Individuals With Chronic Knee Pain: A Pilot Study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026
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170 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Benjamin E SmithDerby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London Road Community Hospital, Derby, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-4723-0028
James SelfeDepartment of Health Professions, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Damian ThackerPhysioWorks (Sheffield), Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Paul HendrickDivision of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals (City Campus), Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Marcus BatemanDerby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London Road Community Hospital, Derby, United Kingdom.
Fiona MoffattDivision of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals (City Campus), Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Michael Skovdal RathleffResearch Unit for General Practice in Aalborg, Department of Clinical Medicine at Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Toby O SmithNuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Pip LoganDivision of Rehabilitation and Ageing, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatellofemoral pain is considered one of the most common forms of knee pain, affecting adults, adolescents, and physically active populations. Inconsistencies in reported incidence and prevalence exist and in relation to the allocation of healthcare and research funding, there is a clear need to accurately understand the epidemiology of patellofemoral pain.

methodsAn electronic database search was conducted, as well as grey literature databases, from inception to June 2017. Two authors independently selected studies, extracted data and appraised methodological quality. If heterogeneous, data were analysed descriptively. Where studies were homogeneous, data were pooled through a meta-analysis.

results23 studies were included. Annual prevalence for patellofemoral pain in the general population was reported as 22.7%, and adolescents as 28.9%. Incidence rates in military recruits ranged from 9.7-571.4/1,000 person-years, amateur runners in the general population at 1080.5/1,000 person-years and adolescents amateur athletes 5.1%-14.9% over 1 season. One study reported point prevalence within military populations as 13.5%. The pooled estimate for point prevalence in adolescents was 7.2% (95% Confidence Interval: 6.3%-8.3%), and in female only adolescent athletes was 22.7% (95% Confidence Interval 17.4%-28.0%).

conclusionThis review demonstrates high incidence and prevalence levels for patellofemoral pain. Within the context of this, and poor long term prognosis and high disability levels, PFP should be an urgent research priority. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42016038870.

Indexed as

Knee JointArthralgiaHumansIncidencePatellofemoral Pain SyndromePrevalence

Identifiers

PMID29324820
PMCPMC5764329

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

and 2 more above

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.