Of the functional tests , squatting demonstrated the highest sensitivity .
Other useful tests include pain during stair climbing and prolonged sitting .
Conclusion A diagnostic checklist is useful as it provides a structured method for diagnosing AKP in a clinical setting .
Background  Anterior knee pain ( AKP ) or patellofemoral pain syndrome is common and may limit an individual 's ability to perform common activities of daily living such as stair climbing and prolonged sitting .
The diagnosis is difficult as there are multiple definitions for this disorder and there are no accepted criteria for diagnosis .
It is therefore most commonly a diagnosis that is made once other pathologies have been excluded .
Objectives The aim of this study was to create an evidence -based checklist for research ers and clinicians to use for the diagnosis of AKP .
Diagnostic accuracy and association to disability of clinical test findings associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
PURPOSE To investigate the diagnostic accuracy and association to disability of selected functional findings or physical examination tests for patellofemoral pain syndrome ( PFPS ) in patients with anterior knee pain . METHODS A sample of 76 consecutive patients with anterior knee pain was further subdivided into PFPS and other diagnoses . Routine physical examination tests were examined in a prospect i ve , consecutive-subjects design for a cohort of patients with anterior knee pain . Diagnostic accuracy findings , including sensitivity , specificity , positive ( PPV ) and negative ( NPV ) predictive value , and positive ( LR+ ) and negative ( LR- ) likelihood ratios , were calculated for each test . PPV and NPV reflect the percentage of time of positive or a negative test ( respectively ) accurately captures the diagnosis of the condition . LR+ and LR- reflect alterations in post-test probability when the test is positive or negative ( respectively ) . Lastly , associations to disability ( International Knee Documentation Committee ( IKDC ) subjective form ) were calculated for each clinical finding . RESULTS Diagnostic accuracy analyses of individual functional assessment and situational phenomena suggest that the strongest diagnostic test is pain encountered during resisted muscle contraction of the knee ( PPV=82 % ; LR+=2.2 ; 95 % CI : 0.99 - 5.2 ) . Clusters of test findings were substantially more diagnostic , with any two of three positive findings of muscle contraction , pain during squatting , and pain during palpation yielding the following values : PPV=89 % ; LR+=4.0 ( 95 % CI : 1.8 - 10.3 ) . No individual or clustered test findings were significantly associated with the IKDC score . CONCLUSION Combinations of functional assessment tests and situational phenomena are diagnostic for PFPS and may serve to rule in and rule out the presence of PFPS . Single findings are not related to disability scores ( IKDC )
Of the functional tests , squatting demonstrated the highest sensitivity .
Other useful tests include pain during stair climbing and prolonged sitting .
Conclusion A diagnostic checklist is useful as it provides a structured method for diagnosing AKP in a clinical setting .
Background  Anterior knee pain ( AKP ) or patellofemoral pain syndrome is common and may limit an individual 's ability to perform common activities of daily living such as stair climbing and prolonged sitting .
The diagnosis is difficult as there are multiple definitions for this disorder and there are no accepted criteria for diagnosis .
It is therefore most commonly a diagnosis that is made once other pathologies have been excluded .
Objectives The aim of this study was to create an evidence -based checklist for research ers and clinicians to use for the diagnosis of AKP .