title: Functional and EMG responses to a physical therapy treatment in patellofemoral syndrome patients.
abstract: There are several pathologies related to the patellofemoral joint, in which the patellofemoral syndrome is one of the most common and challenging to treat. The patellofemoral syndrome results from a malalignment of the knee extensor mechanism. The purpose of our study was to describe and compare EMG responses of the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles while walking up and down stairs and other clinical and functional responses in PFS subjects before and after a physical therapy intervention. Eleven subjects were studied and divided in two groups: six subjects with clinically diagnosed patellofemoral syndrome and five healthy control subjects. Subjects were evaluated by a functional and biomechanical evaluation protocol: postural evaluation, pain and knee function evaluation, and electromyographic activity of vastus medialis and lateralis muscles while walking up and down a staircase. Results showed higher efficiency of the vastus medialis muscle in carrying out eccentric exercises and increased muscle activity in both the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles while climbing stairs after physical therapy treatment. We were able to identify an improvement in postural alignment of lower limb muscles and knee functionality among patellofemoral syndrome group subjects after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy Department, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. icnsacco@usp.br
authors.forename: Isabel de C N
authors.initials: Ide C
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: Gil Kiyoshi
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.forename: Guilherme Benetti
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Arnone
authors.forename: Anice de Campos
authors.initials: Ade C
authors.lastname: Pássaro
authors.forename: Amélia Pasqual
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Cristina Maria Nunes
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cabral
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*