Anterior Knee Pain Scale.

General description: The Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS) – sometimes called the Kujala Scale (Kujala et al 1993) is a 13-item knee-specific self-report questionnaire. It documents response to six activities thought to be associated specifically with anterior knee pain syndrome (walking, running, jumping, climbing stairs, squatting, and sitting for prolonged periods with knees bent), as well as symptoms such as limp, inability to weight bear through the affected limb, swelling, abnormal patellar movement, muscle atrophy and limitation of knee flexion. The AKPS asks about duration of symptoms and limb(s) affected. The maximum score is 100 and lower scores indicate greater pain/disability. Scoring is hierarchical using various types of categorisation including ‘no difficulty – unable’ and ‘no pain – severe pain.’ Some sections incorporate grading of the distance able to be walked or run without pain. The section on stair climbing distinguishes those with pain only on descending stairs from those who experience pain both ascending and descending.