Patellar Tendon Reflex and Vastus Medialis Hoffmann Reflex Are Down Regulated and Correlated in Women With Patellofemoral Pain

Pazzinatto, Marcella Ferraz [UNESP]; de Oliveira Silva, Danilo [UNESP]; Ferreira, Amanda Schenatto [UNESP]; Waiteman, Marina Cabral [UNESP]; Pappas, Evangelos; Magalhães, Fernando Henrique; de Azevedo, Fábio Mícolis [UNESP]

Patellar Tendon Reflex and Vastus Medialis Hoffmann Reflex Are Down Regulated and Correlated in Women With Patellofemoral Pain

Arquivos

2-s2.0-85053310390.pdf (276.84 KB)

Data

2018-01-01

Autores

Pazzinatto, Marcella Ferraz

de Oliveira Silva, Danilo

Ferreira, Amanda Schenatto

Waiteman, Marina Cabral

Pappas, Evangelos

Magalhães, Fernando Henrique

de Azevedo, Fábio Mícolis

Tipo

Artigo

Direito de acesso

Acesso aberto

Resumo

Objectives: The aims of this study were threefold: (1) to compare the amplitude of patellar tendon reflex (T-reflex) between women with patellofemoral pain (PFP) and pain-free controls; (2) to compare the amplitude of vastus medialis Hoffmann reflex (VM H-reflex) between women with PFP and pain-free controls; (3) to investigate the association between the amplitude of patellar T-reflex and VM H-reflex in women with PFP and pain-free controls. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: Laboratory of biomechanics and motor control. Participants: Thirty women with PFP and 30 pain-free women aged 18 to 35 years (N=60). Main Outcome Measures: Peak-to-peak amplitudes of maximal VM H-reflex (elicited via electrical stimulation on the femoral nerve) and patellar T-reflex (elicited via mechanical percussion on the patellar tendon) were estimated. Results: Women with PFP had significant lower amplitude of patellar T-reflex (mean difference=0.086; 95% confidence interval=0.020 to 0.151; P=.010; moderate effect) and VM H-reflex (mean difference=0.150; 95% confidence interval =0.073 to 0.227; P<.001; large effect) compared to pain-free controls. The VM H-reflex was strongly correlated with patellar T-reflex in both PFP group (r=0.66; P<.001) and control group (r=0.72; P<.001). Conclusions: As the T-reflex is easier to perform than H-reflex assessments in a clinical setting, it represents a feasible option to assess the impaired excitability of the stretch reflex pathway associated with PFP.