Patellofemoral pain is a common cycling-related injury, and in order to create effective prevention programs, independent risk factors associated with or causing patellofemoral pain need to be identified. Recent research published by researchers in the UP Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI) involved 62758 race entrants of a mass community-based cycling race held in 2016 – 2020. Participants completed a pre-race medical questionnaire, and 323 reported patellofemoral pain. The main findings of the study were: 1) the prevalence of a history of patellofemoral pain in cyclists did not differ by sex or age, 2) training and racing variables were not associated with a history of PFP in cyclists, and 3) independent factors associated with a history of patellofemoral pain in cyclists were a history of chronic disease and a history of allergy.  The researchers recommend that prevention programs for patellofemoral pain be considered when cycling is prescribed as a physical activity intervention for patients with chronic disease.  They also suggest that older cyclists presenting with patellofemoral pain be assessed for the presence of risk factors or existing chronic disease.

Reference for this summary:

Factors associated with patellofemoral pain in recreational road cyclists: A cross-sectional study in 59953 cyclists - SAFER XXXIII. François du Toit, Martin Schwellnus, Esme Jordaan, Sonja Swanevelder, Paola Wood. Physical Therapy in Sport 59 (2023) 136-143. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1466853X22001730?via%3Dihub