Abstract
Objectives
To evaluate the added value of isolated core postural control training on knee pain
and function in women with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).
Design
Randomized controlled trial.
Setting
Rehabilitation sciences research center.
Participants
Women (N=33) between 18 and 30 years of age with PFPS were randomly assigned to a
control group (n=16) or the experimental group (n=17).
Interventions
Participants in both groups received the same stretching and strengthening exercises
during 4 weeks (12 sessions 3 days per week). The experimental group also received
isolated core postural training with an unstable seat apparatus.
Main Outcome Measures
Center of pressure (CoP) trajectories in sitting postural control, pain intensity,
and function were recorded before and after the 4-week intervention period. Functional
capacity and pain intensity were reassessed 3 months after the intervention.
Results
After treatment, both groups had significant improvements in pain, function (P<.001), and CoP trajectories in sitting postural control (control group P<.05, experimental group P<.001). Between-group comparisons demonstrated greater improvements in pain, function,
and CoP trajectories in the experimental group (P<.001). This group also had significantly greater improvements in pain and Kujala
Anterior Knee Pain Scale score at 3-month follow-up compared to the control group
(P<.001).
Conclusions
Adding isolated core postural control training to physiotherapy exercises was associated
with significantly greater improvements in pain, function, and CoP trajectories than
physiotherapy exercises alone. Therefore, unstable sitting postural control training
is potentially useful to enhance rehabilitation management in patients with PFPS.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
AKPS (Anterior Knee Pain Scale), CoP (center of pressure), NRS (numeric rating scale), PFPS (patellofemoral pain syndrome), RMS (root mean square)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 26, 2018
Footnotes
Supported by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (grant no. 94-01-06-10731).
Clinical Trial Registration No.: IRCT2016120415932N12.
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
