Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine if physiotherapists treating patients with PFP can predict the effect of a 12-week training intervention measured on function based on an initial assessment.
STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a randomized trial comparing quadriceps exercises with hip exercises in patients with patellofemoral pain as is two independent cohort studies that analyze the association between physiotherapists' prognosis and function and TransQ.
METHODS: Physiotherapists were asked to predict the prognosis of a total of 200 PFP patients on a 0-10 scale. Outcome measures consisted of changes from baseline to 12 and 26-weeks on the KUJALA questionnaire and dichotomized TransQ. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the prediction of KUJALA and TransQ.
RESULTS: No association was found between physiotherapists’ assessment of prognosis and changes in function using KUJALA for either QE or HE at 12 and 26-weeks (Slope = -0.39 to -0.46 with wide CIs). No association was found between physiotherapists’ assessment of prognosis using TransQ for either QE or HE at 12 and 26 weeks (OR = 1.05 to 1.19 with wide CIs). The physiotherapists used previously validated prognostic factors such as symptom duration and pain intensity in their reason for prediction.
CONCLUSION: Physiotherapists’ prediction of the prognosis is not associated with changes in function or treatment success based on initial assessment after 12 and 26-weeks for patients with PFP, despite using previously validated prognostic factors. Physiotherapists’ prognoses are not useful as an additional source of information in decision-making and identifying patients with poor projected outcomes.