Correlation of rearfoot angle to Q-angle in patellofemoral pain syndrome: a prospective study

Background: Objective of the study was to evaluate the correlation between rearfoot posture to Q-angle in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Methods: This is a two-year prospective observational study in which all patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome in the age group of 20-30 years were included in the study. The static Q-angle and the rearfoot angles of these subjects were measured and analyzed statistically for their correlation. Results: There were sixty patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study. Pearson product moment correlation showed 27% subjects having rearfoot valgus and 73% having rearfoot varus angle. T test showed statistically significant Q-angle for rearfoot varus compared to rearfoot valgus. Conclusions: Rearfoot varus is more commonly associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome. The Q-angle increases in both rearfoot varus and valgus but is significantly more in patients with rearfoot varus.