Comparative evaluation of ambulation patterns and isokinetic muscle strength for the application of rehabilitation exercise in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome

Abstract

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the ambulation patterns and knee joint performance between people with and without patellofemoral pain. The present study also aimed to utilize these results as a basis for the development of pain-alleviating and performance-improving treatment programs. [Subjects and Methods] Subjects consisted of 32 adult females diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome and 25 adult females without patellofemoral pain (controls). Contact ratio patterns during ambulation and isokinetic muscle strength around the knee joint were measured in both groups and then compared. [Results] Ambulation patterns, specifically the contact ratios of the left forefoot and right forefoot, differed significantly between patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome and controls. An isokinetic muscle strength test demonstrated that left and right knee extensor and flexor torques also significantly differed between these two groups. [Conclusion] Basic analysis based on ambulation patterns and muscle strength can be used to indicate functional recovery from patellofemoral pain syndrome and provide insight into improving the rehabilitation of patients.

Impaired Knee Muscle Capacity Is Correlated With Impaired Sagittal Kinematics During Jump Landing in Women With Patellofemoral Pain

“…Moderate to large knee strength deficits identified in this study are consistent with a number of previous studies in women with PFP (9-30%) (12,13,16,40). Other studies evaluating dynamic knee strength have reported greater deficits in women with PFP (37-71%) (20,53) compared with results of this study (12-21%). This inconsistency may be explained by the lack of torque normalization (20,53).…”

“…Other studies evaluating dynamic knee strength have reported greater deficits in women with PFP (37–71%) (20,53) compared with results of this study (12–21%). This inconsistency may be explained by the lack of torque normalization (20,53). Nevertheless, results from this study, along with other reported findings (12,13,16,20,40,53), highlight the potential importance of addressing knee muscle strength during rehabilitation of PFP (21).…”

“…This inconsistency may be explained by the lack of torque normalization (20,53). Nevertheless, results from this study, along with other reported findings (12,13,16,20,40,53), highlight the potential importance of addressing knee muscle strength during rehabilitation of PFP (21).…”

“…Research evaluating dynamic knee and hip strength (i.e., using multiple concentric or eccentric contractions) in women with PFP is limited compared with isometric strength. Previous studies of concentric (13,16,20,53) and eccentric (13,16) quadriceps strength have reported that women with PFP have impaired quadriceps strength for both concentric and eccentric contractions compared with asymptomatic women (13,16,20,53). At the hip, four studies have reported dynamic hip strength in women with PFP (1,16,29,47), with their results indicating that women with PFP have lower eccentric hip abduction torque (1,16,29), lower concentric hip abduction torque (16), and lower concentric hip extension torque (47) compared with asymptomatic women.…”

Sports Mechanics Rehabilitation Effects on Knee and Muscle

“…4 Proposed by clinical research to explore professional rehabilitation method application in the rehabilitation after knee cruciate ligament reconstruction, establish knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, postoperative rehabilitation training standard and specification, the maximum recovery in patients with motor function, so as to solve the knee anterior cruciate ligament injury rehabilitation in prominent and urgent problem, provide a reference basis for the postoperative rehabilitation treatment. 5…”