RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Gait related intrinsic risk factors for patellofemoral pain in novice recreational runners JF British Journal of Sports Medicine JO Br J Sports Med FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine DO 10.1136/bjsm.2008.046649 A1 Youri Thijs A1 Dirk De Clercq A1 Philip Roosen A1 Erik Witvrouw YR 2008 UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2008/04/08/bjsm.2008.046649.abstract AB Objective: The purpose of this study was to prospectively determine gait related intrinsic risk factors for patellofemoral pain (PFP) in a population of novice recreational runners. Design: Prospective cohort study. Participants: One hundred and two novice recreational runners (89 women, 13 men), with no history of knee or lower leg complaints. Interventions: The subjects’ standing foot posture was examined and plantar pressure measurements during running were collected. Subsequently, the subjects participated in a ten week ‘start to run’ program. During this period all sports injuries were registered by a sports medicine physician. Main Outcome Measurements: The relationship between the standing foot posture and PFP was investigated and gait related intrinsic risk factors for PFP were determined. Results: The 17 runners who developed PFP in this study exerted a significantly higher vertical peak force underneath the lateral heel and metatarsals 2 and 3. Logistic regression analysis showed that a significantly higher vertical peak force underneath the second metatarsal and shorter time to the vertical peak force underneath the lateral heel were predictors for PFP. No significant evidence was found for an association between an excessively pronated or supinated foot posture and the development of PFP. Conclusions: The findings suggest that an excessive impact shock during heel strike and at the propulsion phase of running may contribute to an increased risk of developing PFP. The hypothesis that persons at risk for PFP show an altered static foot posture in comparison with non-afflicted persons is not supported by the results of this study.