Is hip strengthening the best treatment option for females with patellofemoral pain? A randomized controlled trial of three different types of exercises

Author(s)

Saad, Marcelo Camargo ^{[1, 2]} ; de Vasconcelos, Rodrigo Antunes ^[3] ; de Oliveira Mancinelli, Leticia Villani ^[4] ; de Barros Munno, Matheus Soares ^[4] ; Liporaci, Rogerio Ferreira ^[1] ; Grossi, Debora Bevilaqua ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, FMRP, Programa Biomecan Med & Reabilitacao Aparelho Loc, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, FMRP, Programa Posgrad Reabilitacao & Desempenho Func, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Nucleo Estudos Inst Wilson Mello, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, FMRP, Curso Fisioterapia, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL THERAPY; v. 22, n. 5, p. 408-416, SEP-OCT 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of three types of exercise intervention in patients with patellofemoral pain and to verify the contributions of each intervention to pain control, function, and lower extremity kinematics. Methods: A randomized controlled, single-blinded trial was conducted. Forty women with patellofemoral pain were randomly allocated into four groups: hip exercises, quadriceps exercises, stretching exercises and a control group (no intervention). Pain (using a visual analog scale), function (using the Anterior Knee Pain Scale), hip and quadriceps strength (using a handheld isometric dynamometer) and measuring lower limb kinematics during step up and down activities were evaluated at baseline and 8 weeks post intervention. Results: All treatment groups showed significant improvements on pain and Anterior Knee Pain Scale after intervention with no statistically significant differences between groups except when compared to the control group. Only hip and quadriceps groups demonstrated improvements in muscle strength and knee valgus angle during the step activities. Conclusion: Hip strengthening exercises were not more effective for pain relief and function compared to quadriceps or stretching exercises in females with patellofemoral pain. Only hip and quadriceps groups were able to decrease the incidence of dynamic valgus during step-down activity. (C) 2018 Associacao Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pos-Graduacao em Fisioterapia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/12561-9 - Biomechanic evaluation of the lower limbs before and after treatment in anterior knee pain individuals: randomized clinical trial
• Grantee: Marcelo Camargo Saad
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate