Quality of life in adolescents with longstanding non-traumatic knee pain: An analysis of 316 adolescents with Patellofemoral Pain and Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Chris Djurtoft; Tomer Yona; Ewa Maria Roos; Kristian Thorborg; Per Hölmich; Sten Rasmussen; Jens Lykkegaard Olesen; Michael Skovdal Rathleff

doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.04.001

Quality of life in adolescents with longstanding non-traumatic knee pain: An analysis of 316 adolescents with Patellofemoral Pain and Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Phys Ther Sport. 2023 May:61:156-164. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.04.001. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

Authors

Chris Djurtoft¹, Tomer Yona², Ewa Maria Roos³, Kristian Thorborg⁴, Per Hölmich⁵, Sten Rasmussen⁶, Jens Lykkegaard Olesen⁷, Michael Skovdal Rathleff⁸

Affiliations

¹ Center for General Practice at Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark. Electronic address: cdjurt@dcm.aau.dk.
² Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
³ Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy, Center for Muscle and Joint Health, Institute of Sport Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
⁴ Sports Orthopedic Research Center - Copenhagen (SORC-C), Hvidovre, Denmark; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research-Copenhagen (PMR-C), Hvidovre, Denmark.
⁵ Sports Orthopedic Research Center - Copenhagen (SORC-C), Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁶ Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark.
⁷ Center for General Practice at Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
⁸ Center for General Practice at Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark; Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.

PMID: 37062163
DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.04.001

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the Quality of Life (QoL) among adolescents with Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) and Osgood-Schlatter Disease (OSD) and investigate characteristics associated with QoL.

Study design: Cross-sectional.

Participants: 316 adolescents with PFP or OSD.

Main outcome measures: QoL subscale of The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the EuroQol 5-dimensions (EQ-5D).

Results: The KOOS-QoL was 51 ± 18, and the total index score for the EQ5D was 0.67 ± 0.21. KOOS-QoL subscale showed that 60% reported being aware of their knee problems daily or constantly, 38% reported severe to extreme lack of confidence in their knees, 28% reported severe to extreme difficulty with their knees, and 20% reported severely or totally modifying their lifestyle to avoid potentially damaging activities to their knee. EQ-5D showed that 79% experienced problems with everyday activities, 48% reported mobility problems, 17% felt worried, sad, or unhappy, and 7% reported problems looking after themselves.

Conclusions: Many adolescents with longstanding non-traumatic knee pain experience low QoL. More than half were aware of their knee problems at least daily, one in three reported a severe lack of confidence in their knee, and one in six felt worried, sad, or unhappy.

Keywords: Non-traumatic knee pain; Osgood-Schlatter Disease; Patellofemoral Pain; Quality of life.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Osteochondrosis*
Pain
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome*
Quality of Life