Prevalence of Anterior Knee Pain and Related Functional Limitations among Physical Therapy Students – A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Anterior knee pain is one of the challenge in MSK cases with pain during knee flexion, stairs climbing and functional activity. Anterior knee pain can cause hindrance in functional activity that leads to impaired physical development reduced fitness, altering your body composition with impaired motor skill. Rehabilitation protocol emphasize on posture control, extremity coordination and strengthening. The prevalence of knee pain is increasing in both male and female but mostly females. Anterior knee pain or patellofemoral pain mostly undiagnosed or untreated due to poor awareness and untrained professional with limited resources of preventive care in Pakistan. Due to lack of studies on Pakistani subject particularly young physical therapy students who had high demand of physical work and are likely to experience any additional MSK pain, this study will help to evaluate the occurrence of knee pain and limited functional activities in physical therapy students. Objective: To determine the prevalence of anterior knee pain and related functional limitation among physical therapy students. Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study on Physical Therapy university students with a sample size of 174 drawn from Indus University, Jinnah Sindh Medical University and Liaquat National University of Karachi, Pakistan. A non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to include both males and females in study. Demographics questions along Kujala knee pain scale and VAS scale were used.. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 to assess the prevalence of anterior knee pain and related limited functional limitation. Participation was voluntary with informed consent, and respondents’ privacy and confidentiality were ensured throughout the study. Result: Anterior knee pain affected 55.2% of physical therapy students with females more commonly and moderate unilateral pain predominating. Over 70% experienced functional limitation in daily and academic activities, and a significant association between knee pain and functional limitation was confirmed (x2=9.87,p=0.002). Conclusion: This study confirms that Anterior knee pain is common leading to MSK strain and academic impairment. Early screening and preventive strategies are essential to support student well-being and longterm work force sustainability.