Therapeutic effect of two muscle strengthening programs in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. A randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Introduction: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders affecting the knee joint. Conservative treatment reduces pain and improves functional capacity in the short and medium-term.Objective: To determine the therapeutic effect of two muscle strengthening exercise programs in patients with PFPS from Bogotá, Colombia, aged between 15 and 40 years.Materials and methods: Experimental randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in 40 patients with PFPS from Bogotá, Colombia, aged 15-40 years, with a mild to moderate level of physical activity. Participants were randomly distributed into 2 intervention groups: Group A: 8-week-long core, hip and knee muscles strengthening exercises program; Group B: 8-week-long hip and knee muscles strengthening exercises program. The level of pain was measured using the Visual Analog Scale and the Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale.Results: The addition of core muscle strengthening exercises to the traditional treatment improved the quality of life of participants in the intervention group A, where a significant reduction of pain, with a statistically significant difference in the total score of the Kujala scale (p=0.025), was observed.Conclusions: Including core muscle strengthening exercises in the conservative management of PFPS increases its effectiveness to reduce pain and improve the quality of life of these patients.

Effects of High-intensity Training and Electrical Stimulation on Pain, Disability, Knee Kinematic and Performance in Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Our study results agreed with previous evidence reporting pain and disability improvements with exercise without EMS (Bily, Trimmel, Mödlin, Kaider, & Kern, 2008;Emamvirdi et al, 2019;Frye, Ramey, & Hart, 2012;Prieto-García, Cortés-Reyes, Lara-Cotacio, & Rodríguez-Corredor, 2021;Stensdotter, Hodges, Mellor, Sundelin, & Häger-Ross, 2003). Stensdotter et al pointed out the effects of open and closed-chain exercises on muscle activity and pain reduction in PFP (Stensdotter et al, 2003).…”

“…Stensdotter et al pointed out the effects of open and closed-chain exercises on muscle activity and pain reduction in PFP (Stensdotter et al, 2003). Prieto-García et al also showed the effects of two types of strength training depending on reducing pain in PFP (Prieto-García et al, 2021). Opposite to our results, Bily et al showed the effects of 12 weeks of exercise alone and with EMS to reduce pain in PFPs, but no significant effect was found by adding EMS (Bily et al, 2008).…”