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

Abstract

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.