Proprioceptive Training vs. Hip Abductor With External Rotator Strengthening in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain

Effects of Proprioceptive Training vs. Hip Abductor With External Rotator Strengthening on Pain and Functions in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common musculoskeletal disorder characterized by an insidious onset of pain in the knee's anterior /retro-patellar / peripatellar region. Even though various rehabilitation approaches, including hip strengthening and proprioceptive training, are being considered for managing PFPS, the most appropriate treatment from these two is still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the program consisting of hip abductors and external rotators strengthening exercises vs. the program consisting of proprioceptive training of the knee to identify the most effective rehabilitation approach for patients suffering from PFPS.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Hip strengthening exercises; Other: Proprioceptive training; Other: Conventional physical therapy

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 45
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Saudi Arabia
  • Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 11433
    • King Saud University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-35 years
• Patients diagnosed recently by an orthopedic surgeon for Patello-femoral pain syndrome
• experiencing anterior/retro patellar knee pain during activities,
• insidious onset of symptoms not linked to trauma,
• pain persisting for no less than four weeks,
• pain on palpation of the patellar facets,
• pain when stepping down from a 25-cm step or during a double-legged squat.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with recent lower limb fractures or dislocations,
• knee/hip joint surgery,
• signs, symptoms, or radiological findings of intra-articular pathology such as effusion, ligamentous or meniscal involvement,
• those with indications of patellar apprehension,
• referred pain from the hip, back, or sacroiliac joint,
• acute knee strain or sprain,
• on medication such as NSAIDs or corticosteroids,
• degenerative and infectious arthritis

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental group 1; In this group participants received hip abductor and external rotator strengthening exercises in addition to conventional physical therapy.	Other: Hip strengthening exercises; Hip abductor and external rotator strengthening exercises were performed for 4 weeks.
Active Comparator: Experimental group 2; In this group participants received proprioceptive training and conventional physical therapy.	Other: Proprioceptive training; Proprioceptive training consisted of eight exercises was performed for 4 weeks.
Active Comparator: Control group; In this group participants received conventional physical therapy alone.	Other: Conventional physical therapy; Conventional physical therapy included interferential therapy and two types of knee-strengthening exercises.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS)	Pain was measured using the AKPS. The AKPS is scored from a minimum score of 0 to a maximum score of 100 points. Lower scores indicate greater pain and disability.	4 weeks.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: King Saud University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 11, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 6, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): June 24, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 16, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 16, 2023
• First Posted (Estimate): January 26, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 26, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 16, 2023
• Last Verified: January 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Rehabilitation; Exercises; Proprioceptive training; Hip muscles strengthening
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Disease; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Syndrome; Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
• Other Study ID Numbers: AWH/EC/03/2021

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No