The Study of Patellar Position and Iliotibial Band Length in Anterior Knee Pain Patients with High and Normal BMI

This paper investigates the relationship between patellar position and iliotibial band length with body mass index (BMI) in in patients with anterior knee pain.
This cross-sectional study is presented in which 60 patients with anterior knee pain were enrolled and allocated in two groups; one with high BMI (N=30) [mean age: 37 and mean BMI 29.8] and the other with normal BMI (N=30) )[mean age:30 and mean BMI 22.6]. The main outcome measures were pain intensity (VAS), knee ROM, patellar position and iliotibial band length which were evaluated and compared in the groups. Independent sample t test, and Pearson Correlation test were applied to analyze the data.
The iliotibial band length showed a statistically significant difference between the groups (p =0.034). There were also significant differences in the knee flexion range and extension lag (respectively, p =0.037 and p =0.008). Pearson correlation showed a significant inverse correlation between BMI and positive Ober test results (r = - 0.57and p=0.0001). Also, a reverse correlation was observed between BMI and tightness of ITB (r=-0.55 and p=0.01) as well as a positive correlation between tightness of ITB and pain intensity in patient with high BMI (r=0.67 and p=0.001).
Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that a positive correlation between the tightness of ITB and BMI in patients with anterior knee pain, but there was no significant correlation between BMI and the position of the patella.