Outcomes of a weight-bearing rehabilitation program for patients diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of a weight-bearing rehabilitation program on quadriceps and gluteus medius electromyographic activity, pain, and function in subjects diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).


METHODS
Pretest and posttest 6-week intervention study.


METHODS
Musculoskeletal research laboratory.


METHODS
Fourteen subjects diagnosed with PFPS and 14 healthy control subjects volunteered to participate in this study. No subjects withdrew from the study because of adverse effects.


METHODS
Subjects diagnosed with PFPS participated in a 6-week rehabilitation program. The rehabilitation program consisted of weight-bearing exercises that focused on strengthening the quadriceps and hip abductor musculature.


METHODS
Electromyographic onsets of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis and onset and duration of the gluteus medius were collected during a stair-stepping task that was performed during the pretest and posttest. A visual analog scale (VAS) and Functional Index Questionnaire (FIQ) were administered at pretest and posttest and each week of the intervention.


RESULTS
Vastus lateralis and VMO onset timing differences (vastus lateralis electromyographic onset minus VMO electromyographic onset) and VAS and FIQ scores significantly improved for patients diagnosed with PFPS. Vastus lateralis and VMO onset timing in the PFPS group were significantly different from those in the control group at baseline and were not significantly different from the control group after the intervention. We did not find differences in gluteus medius onsets or duration of activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Subjects diagnosed with PFPS responded favorably and quickly to a therapeutic exercise program that incorporated quadriceps and hip musculature strengthening. The efficacy of the therapeutic exercise program used in this study should be further investigated in a larger subject population.
Boling
Michelle C
MC
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. boling@email.unc.edu
Bolgla
Lori A
LA
Mattacola
Carl G
CG
Uhl
Tim L
TL
Hosey
Robert G
RG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016474:Weight-Bearing