title: Effectiveness of different exercises and stretching physiotherapy on pain and movement in patellofemoral pain syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation combined with exercise, classic stretching physiotherapy intervention, and educational intervention at improving patient function and pain in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled, blind trial over four months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban population, Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing primary care for retropatellar pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were allocated on three different treatment options: a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and aerobic exercise group, a classic stretching group, and a control treatment were applied over four months under the supervision of a physiotherapist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knee Society Score, pain reported (Visual analogue scale) and knee range of motion. Assessments were completed at baseline and after four months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  74 patients were enrolled in the study and distributed between groups. Both the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and classic stretching group showed significant changes in all variables after four months intervention (p < 0.001). The difference in mean Kujala knee score changes between groups (classic stretching group vs. proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation group vs. control group) at four months was -24.05 (95% confidence interval (CI) -30.19, -17.90), p ≤ 0.001; vs. -39.03 (95% confidence interval (CI) -42.5, -35.5), p ≤ 0.001; vs. -0.238 (95% confidence interval (CI) -1.2, 0.726), p = 0.621, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation intervention protocol combined with aerobic exercise showed a better outcome than a classic stretching protocol after four months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Granada, Granada 18071, Spain.
authors.forename: F Revelles
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Moyano
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Valenza
authors.forename: L Martin
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Y Castellote
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Jimenez
authors.forename: G Valenza
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Demet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013030:Spain; D016896:Treatment Outcome