The effects of fear-avoidance beliefs on anterior knee pain and physical therapy visit count for young individuals: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: 1) Report levels of fear-avoidance beliefs in adolescents with anterior knee pain, 2) determine if fear-avoidance beliefs predict the number of therapy visits used to treat anterior knee pain, and 3) determine if initial fear-avoidance beliefs predict functional ability at discharge.

DESIGN: A retrospective review.

SETTING: Pediatric outpatient hospital.

PARTICIPANTS: Patients ages 10-21 years with a diagnosis of anterior knee pain between 2009 and 2016.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The predictor variable was initial fear avoidance beliefs physical activity subscale (FABQ-PA) score and the outcome variable was total physical therapy visit count. Functional ability was assessed using the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS).

RESULTS: Adolescents with anterior knee pain reported moderate fear-avoidance beliefs with an average initial FABQ-PA score of 13.2 ± 5. The FABQ-PA score did not significantly contribute to the visit count (p = 0.22, R2 =<0.01). Fear-avoidance beliefs were most correlated with initial score on the AKPS (r = -0.44).

CONCLUSION: Fear-avoidance beliefs in adolescents are similar to that seen in adults. FABQ-PA scores did not impact the number of visits used to treat anterior knee pain or functional ability at discharge.