Participant characteristics: studies presented in order of those with only psychosocial measurements; those with PFP-free controls; those examining the relationship between psychosocial factors and other PFP-related symptoms; and those exploring the predictive capabilities of psychosocial factors
| Author (date) | PFP group | PFP-free control group | |||||||||||||
| Study design/Data provided (descriptive, comparative, correlative) | Source | Number (women) | Age: mean (SD) | BMI: mean (SD) | Occupation/Education/ Activity | PFP diagnosis information | Pain duration (months): mean (SD) | Pain severity: mean (SD) | Patient-reported functional measures related to PFP: mean (SD) | Source | Number (females) | Age (mean ± SD) | BMI: mean (SD) | Occupation/ Education/ activity | |
| Akkurt et al (2010)49 | Case series/ descriptive | NR | 22 (22) | 34.7 (8.4) | NR | NR | Clinical criteria described | NR | VAS: 4.5 (1.9) | SF-36 PHC: 39.9 (19.6) | No control | ||||
| Apivatgaroon et al 26 | Case series/ Correlative | University hospital | 49 (39) | 46.59 (10.83) | 25.19 (4.51) | NR | Clinical criteria described | Median (range): 10 (0.5–120) | NR | Kujala:47.61 (21.11) SF-36 PHC: NR | No control | ||||
| Cheung et al (2012)28 | Case series/ Correlative | Hospitals and physiotherapy clinics | 64 (26) | 30.2 (6.1) | 22.3 | NR | No criteria but practitioner named | 32.2 (38.8) | NR | Kujala: 86.4 (11.2) SF-36 PHC: NR | No control | ||||
| Cheung et al (2013)43 | Case series/ Correlative | Athletics clubs | 38 (24) | 21.9 (1.9) | 20.6 | 19.4 (17.2) hours training per week | No criteria but practitioner named | 18.1 (21.1) | NR | Kujala: 79.87 (13.1) SF-36 PF: 81.5 (17.2) SF-36 RP: 59.9 (42.6) SF-36 BP: 56.9 (20.8) SF-36 GH: 65.2 (19.5) | No control | ||||
| Doménech et al (2013)30 | Case series/ Correlative | Orthopaedic outpatients clinics | 97 (80) | 32 (10.0) | NR | NR | No criteria but practitioner named | Mean (range): 12 (6–22) | VAS: 6.9 (1.8) | Lysholm: 47.7 (20.4) | No control | ||||
| Doménech et al (2014)29 | Cohort/ Correlative | Orthopaedic outpatients clinics | 47 (42) | 32.1 (10.9) | NR | Education: University: 17 Secondary studies: 19 Basic studies: 11 | No criteria but practitioner named | NR | VAS: 7.7 (1.6) | Lysholm: 43.9 (20.9) | No control | ||||
| Eapen et al (2011)31 | Case series/ Descriptive | In-and-outpatient hospital departments | 20 (12) | 27.5 (6.6) | NR | NR | Clinical criteria described and practitioner named | NR | NR | PFP severity score: 57.94 (11.07) | No control | ||||
| Haim et al (2013)31 | Case series/ Descriptive | Therapy centre database | 48 (21) | 31.2 (8.7) | 24 (4.0) | NR | Clinical criteria described and practitioner named | NR | VAS: 30.9 (18.5) | WOMAC: Pain: 30.9 (18.5) stiffness: 19.3 (20.2) function: 20.6 (17.4) SF-36 PHC: 52.6 (18.5) | No control | ||||
| Kastelein et al (2014)33 | Case series/ Descriptive | General practitioners | 74 (35) | 23.7 (7.9) | 23.4 (4.3) | Mixed level of education and working hours | No criteria but practitioner named | Half of sample under 3 months | NPRS: 3.6 (2.3) | Lysholm: 73.7 (14.0) WOMAC: Pain: 2.4 (16.9); stiffness: 23.6 (22.3); function: 18.4 (15.8) | No control | ||||
| Kuru et al (2012)50 | Cohort/ Descriptive | NR | 30 (26) | 36.9 (11.9) | 25.3 (1.6) | Years in education: 12.4 (3.2) | No criteria but practitioner named | NR | VAS: 6.4 (1.6) | Kujala: 76 (9) SF-36 PF: 40.2 (9.4) SF-36 RP: 38.2 (11.8) SF-36 BP: 41.6 (8.6) SF-36 GH: 41.8 (9.4) | No control | ||||
| Negahban et al (2012; 2013)34 35 | Case series/ Correlative | Physiotherapy clinics | 100 (71) | 25.28 (7.0) | Mean: 23.0 | Years of education: 6–8: 2 9–12: 15 >12: 83 | Clinical criteria described and practitioner named | Median (IQR): 12 (6, 24) | NR | Kujala: 67.6 (13.5) SF-36 PF: 65 (24) SF-36 RP: 47.8 (36.9) SF-36 BP: 51.2 (19.3) SF-36 GH: 53.6 (17.2) FIQ: 10.4 (2.9) MFIQ: 31.3 (18.0) | No control | ||||
| Piva et al (2009a)36 | Case series/ Correlative | Clinical sites on military bases | 74 (39) | 29 (9.0) | Mean: 26.3 | Employment type: mostly sedentary: 18; sedentary, walking: 13; moderately active: 34; demanding: 9 | Clinical criteria described and practitioner named | Range: 1 ->25 | NPRS: 3.8 (1.9) | KOS-ADLS: 66 (17) | No control | ||||
| Piva et al (2009b)37 | Cohort/ Correlative | Clinical sites on military bases | 51 (27) | Median (IQR): 26: 22–38 | Mean: 25.9 | Employment type: mostly sedentary: 11; sedentary, walking: 9; moderately active: 25; Demanding: 6 | Clinical criteria described | Range: 1 ->25 | Median (IQR): NPRS: 3.7 (2.3–5.0) | Median (IQR): KOS-ADLS: 71.4 (55.7–78.6) | No control | ||||
| Rathleff et al (2015)45 | Cohort/ Descriptive | Secondary school cohort | 121 (97) | 17.2 (1.0) | 21.7 (2.9) | Education: secondary school students. Activity: participating in sport=40 | Clinical criteria described and practitioner named | Median (IQR): 39 (21–60) | Median (IQR): VAS: with activity: 50.0 (35.0–64.0). At rest=13.0 (3 27) | NR | No control | ||||
| Selfe et al (2016)38 | Case series/ Descriptive | Hospital-based physiotherapy clinics | 127 (84) | 26 (5.7) | 25.4 (5.8) | Number (%) with low physical activity level (IPAQ): 19 (15) | Clinical criteria described and practitioner named | Median (IQR): 24 (7–60) | 4.7 (1.95) | MFIQ: 34.1 (16.97) | No control | ||||
| Selhorst et al (2015)39 | Cohort/ Descriptive | Children’s hospital physiotherapy clinic | 21 (14) | 14.1 (1.4) | NR | NR | No criteria but practitioner named | NR | NPRS: 2.2 (0.9) | AKPS: 77.90 (8.99) | No control | ||||
| Syme et al (2009)40 | Cohort/ Descriptive | Orthopaedic knee clinic | 69 (41) | 28.2 (7.4) | 25.7 (1.3) | NR | Clinical criteria described | 48.3 (37) | NPRS: 52.9 (27.2) | MFIQ: 33.6 (15.4) SF-36 PHC: 46 (8) | No control | ||||
| Tan et al (2010)41 | Cohort/ Descriptive | GP’s and sports physicians | 131 (84) | 24 (8.2) | 23.1 (3.6) | Primary occupation: in education: 56 paid work: 61 other: 14 Activity: sports participation: 100 5 (3.5) hours per week | Clinical criteria described and practitioner named | NR | NR | NR | No control | ||||
| Thomee et al (2002)42 | Case series/ Descriptive | Orthopaedic surgeons, doctors, nurses and physiotherapists | 50 (gender balance unknown) | 24.9 (9.7) | NR | NR | Clinical criteria described and practitioner named | 67.2 (68.4) | Mean (range): VAS: 32 (20–55) | MPI general activity score: 2.5 (0.9) | No control | ||||
| Assa et al (2013)27 | Case series/ Comparative | Therapy centre database | 157 (66) | 30.3 (5.0) | 23.6 (3.3) | NR | Clinical criteria described and practitioner named | NR | VAS: 30.1 (22.6) | WOMAC: Pain: 30.1 (22.6); Stiffness: 19.5 (24.0); Function: 17.7 (17.9) SF-36 PHC: 54.8 (16.3) | NR | 31 (14) | 31.9 (3.8) | 22.5 (2.9) | NR |
| Carlsson et al (1993)47 | Case series/ Comparative | NR | 17 (8) | 27.5 (5.0) | NR | ‘mixed’ | Clinical criteria described | Range: 9–96 | NR | NR | Physiotherapy students | 17 (8) | 27.7 (5.2) | NR | NR |
| Jensen et al (2005)48 | Case series/ Comparative | Orthopaedic outpatients clinics | 25 (16) | 32.2 (7.1) | 23.8 (3.2) | NR | Clinical criteria described | Mean (range): 74 (12–260) | VAS: 24 (0–77) | CKRS: 57.6 (15.5) | Advertisements | 23 (12) | 29.1 (8.7) | 23.4 (2.3) | NR |
| Rathleff et al (2013)46 | Cohort/ Comparative | Population-based secondary school cohort | 20 (16) | 14.6 (1.1) | Median (IQR): 19.5 (18.2–20.7) | Education: secondary school students | Clinical criteria described and practitioner named | Median (IQR): 28.5 (24–36) | Median (IQR): VAS: With activity: 55.5 (40.5–71.0). At rest=5.5 (1 29) | Median (IQR) PAS=42.0 (39.4 49.8) | Population-based secondary school cohort | 20 (16) | 14.8 (1.0) | Median (IQR): 19.3 (17.4–21.7) | Education: secondary school students |
| Witvrouw et al (2000)44 | Cohort/ Comparative | Physical education classes | 24 (13) | NR | Mean: 21.2 | Activity: 12–14 hours various sports per week+2.8 hours external sports | Clinical criteria described and practitioner named | NR | NR | NR | Physical education classes | 258 (118) | NR | Mean: 21.6 | Activity: 12–14 hours various sports per week+2.5 hours external sports |
AKPS, Anterior Knee Pain Scale; BP, bodily pain; CKRS, Cincinnati Knee Rating System; Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living; GH, general health; KOOS, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score; MFIQ, Modified Functional Index Questionnaire; NR, not reported; PAS, Physical Activity Scale; PFP, patellofemoral pain; RP, role physical; SF-36 PF, Physical Function; SF-36 PHC, Short Form-36 Physical Health Component; WOMAC, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index.