Aspectos relacionados a percepção de dor e funcionalidade de indivíduos com dor femoropatelar

Abstract

Introduction: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is highly prevalent among young adult females and is characterized by chronic, intermittent anterior knee pain that negatively affects functional activities. Although biomechanical factors have been extensively investigated, the contribution of psychosocial factors to functional performance remains insufficiently understood. Objectives: To identify differences in pain intensity, perceived function, and psychosocial factors between females with and without PFP, and to determine which psychosocial variables are most strongly associated with performance on functional tests. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 female participants (18–30 years), allocated into a PFP group (n = 50) and a control group (n = 50). The following variables were assessed: pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale), pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), positive and negative affect (PANAS), perceived function (Activities of Daily Living Scale), self-efficacy for pain and for exercise, and functional performance (Y-Balance Test, Triple Hop Test, and Vertical Jump Test). Independent samples t-tests were used for between-group comparisons. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the association between biomechanical and psychosocial factors and performance on functional tests. Results: The PFP group demonstrated greater pain intensity (4.62 ± 1.58 vs 0.00 ± 0.00 cm; p < 0.001), higher catastrophizing (26.32 ± 8.26 vs 1.22 ± 2.46; p < 0.001), increased negative affect (23.02 ± 7.54 vs 15.78 ± 4.46; p < 0.001), lower self-efficacy for pain (44.98 ± 10.36 vs 59.74 ± 0.94; p < 0.001) and for exercise (6.20 ± 2.09 vs 8.82 ± 1.21; p < 0.001), and poorer functional performance (Y-Balance composite score: 68.75 ± 8.60 vs 82.71 ± 9.09%; Triple Hop: 213.36 ± 50.13 vs 289.47 ± 69.25 cm; Vertical Jump: 20.02 ± 4.68 vs 28.43 ± 6.57 cm; p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Pain intensity was the primary factor associated with functional test performance (R² = 0.38–0.42; p < 0.001). Exercise self-efficacy was associated only with Vertical Jump performance (β = 0.23; p = 0.03), whereas catastrophizing, negative affect, positive affect, pain self-efficacy, and perceived function were not significantly associated with functional test outcomes. Conclusion: Females with PFP exhibited reduced functional performance, greater catastrophizing, and lower self-efficacy compared to controls. Pain intensity was the main factor associated with functional test performance, demonstrating a greater influence than the other psychosocial variables assessed.