Assessment and Physiotherapeutic Intervention for Patellofemoral Pain and Muscle Performance Deficits- A Case Report

Patellofemoral pain can lead to knee pain, mobility and muscle performance deficits. It is caused by mechanical and chemical imbalances within the patellofemoral joint. Physiotherapeutic intervention plays an important role in managing these deficits. In this case, physiotherapeutic interventional prescription was used on the basis of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) model. Assessment based on the ICF is a framework for describing and organising information on functioning and disability. A 55-year-old female with right peripatellar pain was examined using the ICF model for patellofemoral pain and muscle performance deficits. The components observed were correlated with the ICF model. On the basis of ICF-based assessment results, body function diminished in the form of decreased muscle strength and knee Range Of Motion (ROM) with the presence of pain. Functional activity limitations are present in the form of squatting and stair climbing. Other associated findings are mild patellofemoral swelling and quadriceps wasting. This case study found that muscle performance deficits caused by patellofemoral pain can be managed by eight weeks of ICF-based physiotherapeutic intervention that follows physiotherapeutic elements of prescription.