PREVALENCE OF KNEE PAIN IN YOUNG ADULT FEMALES IN SELECTED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HAYATABAD, PESHAWAR

Abstract

AIM: To determine the prevalence of knee pain in young adult females at selected educational institutes of Hayatabad, Peshawar.
METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted in which a total of 410 females between 18 and 27 years of age participated. Mean age of the participants was 20.56 ± 2.081 years. Participants were recruited by consecutive sampling from different universities of Hayatabad and enrolled in the study according to the specified selection criteria. All of the participants completed Modified Pain and Mobility Assessment Questionnaire, which was evaluated on Oxford Knee Score.
RESULTS: Prevalence of knee pain was recorded to be 40.2% in the female population. Out of this, 21.8% and 24.2% had left and right knee pain, respectively, whereas 53.9% were having bilateral knee pain. A total of 73.3% female participants reported prolong sitting to be the most aggravating factor. Knee pain among the subjects was found to be of moderate intensity that may cause daily activity restrictions. Distant walking was reported to be restricted by 40.6% respondents. The Oxford Knee Score showed that maximum participants had a grade 3 score of their knee pain, in which conservative treatment may be enough to cure knee pain. However, majority of the subjects were neither having any change in their knee pain nor were they seeking for any help to cure knee pain.
CONCLUSION: A high prevalence rate of knee pain was found among young adult females without any underlying knee pathology or degeneration. Painful knees among young females was a leading cause to limit their daily life activities due to which they were prone toward a sedentary life style which can lead them to secondary problems like early osteoarthritis and knee disorders etc. The findings of this study have important clinical implications for prevention and early management of knee pain at a younger age.