Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is characterized by intermittent pain in the anterior region or around the patella, commonly observed in young women. Although biomechanical factors are widely recognized, the importance of understanding the impact of non-physical aspects, such as kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, and self-efficacy, on the functionality and performance of individuals with PFPS has become increasingly evident. These psychosocial factors, associated with physical aspects, can affect functional performance, such as during the Vertical Jump.

To verify the level of relationship between psychosocial aspects and performance in the Vertical Jump functional test in female individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The study included 50 women with PFPS, aged between 18 and 30 years. All participants completed standardized questionnaires, including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ-10). Functional Performance was assessed using the Vertical Jump Test. After analyzing the normality of the data (Shapiro-Wilk test), the level of correlation was assessed using the Spearman Correlation test (rs value), with rs values below 0.1 considered weak correlation, values between 0.1 and 0.3 as moderate correlation and rs values above 0.5 as strong correlation. A significance level of 5% was considered.

Only pain intensity showed a moderate negative correlation in relation to pain self-efficacy (PSEQ-10) (rs = -0.33; p < 0.05) and in relation to performance in the Vertical Jump (rs = -0.31; p < 0.05), indicating that higher levels of pain are associated with lower pain self-efficacy and worse functional performance. The other emotional variables did not demonstrate a significant relationship with pain intensity or functional performance.

Pain intensity has an inverse relationship with pain self-efficacy and performance in the Vertical Jump test. On the other hand, vertical jump performance did not show a relationship with emotional aspects.

This study demonstrates that pain level appears to influence the patient&apos;s way of managing pain, as well as functional performance. On the other hand, emotional aspects do not have an important relationship with these factors in patients with PFPS.