Physical therapy for patellofemoral pain: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Although physical therapy forms the mainstay of nonoperative management for patellofemoral pain, its efficacy has not been established.


OBJECTIVE
Significantly more pain relief will be achieved from a 6-week regimen of physical therapy than from placebo treatment.


METHODS
Multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.


METHODS
Seventy-one subjects, 40 years of age or younger with patellofemoral pain of 1 month or longer, were randomly allocated to a physical therapy or placebo group. A standardized treatment program consisted of six treatment sessions, once weekly. Physical therapy included quadriceps muscle retraining, patellofemoral joint mobilization, and patellar taping, and daily home exercises. The placebo treatment consisted of sham ultrasound, light application of a nontherapeutic gel, and placebo taping.


RESULTS
Sixty-seven participants completed the trial. The physical therapy group (N = 33) demonstrated significantly greater reduction in the scores for average pain, worst pain, and disability than did the placebo group (N = 34).


CONCLUSIONS
A six-treatment, 6-week physical therapy regimen is efficacious for alleviation of patellofemoral pain.
Crossley
Kay
K
Centre for Sports Medicine Research and Education, School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Australia.
Bennell
Kim
K
Green
Sally
S
Cowan
Sallie
S
McConnell
Jenny
J
D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy