The effect of additional strengthening of hip abductor and lateral rotator muscles in patellofemoral pain syndrome: a randomized controlled pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of additional strengthening of hip abductor and lateral rotator muscles in a strengthening quadriceps exercise rehabilitation programme for patients with the patellofemoral pain syndrome.


METHODS
Randomized controlled pilot trial.


METHODS
Clinical setting with home programme.


METHODS
Fourteen patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.


METHODS
The subjects were randomly assigned to the intervention group (strengthening of quadriceps plus strengthening of hip abductor and lateral rotator muscles) or to the control group (strengthening of quadriceps). Both groups participated in a six-week home exercise protocol.


METHODS
The perceived pain symptoms, isokinetic eccentric knee extensor, hip abductor and lateral rotator torques and the gluteus medius electromyographic activity were assessed before and after treatment. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used to compare the groups before and after treatment with alpha=0.05.


RESULTS
Only the intervention group improved perceived pain symptoms during functional activities (P=0.02-0.04) and also increased their gluteus medius electromyographic activity during isometric voluntary contraction (P=0.03). Eccentric knee extensors torque increased in both groups (P=0.04 and P=0.02). There was no statistically significant difference in the hip muscles torque in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation of strengthening of hip abductor and lateral rotator muscles in a strengthening quadriceps exercise programme provided additional benefits with respect to the perceived pain symptoms during functional activities in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome after six weeks of treatment.
Nakagawa
Theresa Helissa
TH
Physiotherapy Department, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos SP, Brazil.
Muniz
Thiago Batista
TB
Baldon
Rodrigo de Marche
Rde M
Dias Maciel
Carlos
C
de Menezes Reiff
Rodrigo Bezerra
RB
Serrão
Fábio Viadanna
FV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult