Effects of tibiofemoral mobilization in patients of Patellofemoral pain syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of tibiofemoral joint mobilisation on pain and range of motion in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Methods: The randomised control trial was conducted at the Lady Reading Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan, from July to December 2019, and comprised patellofemoral pain syndrome patients of either gender aged 25-35 years with anterior knee pain for at least one month. The subjects were randomly allocated control group A and experimental group B. Group A received 6 stretching and strengthening exercises of hip and knee muscles with hot pack, while group B additionally received tibiofemoral joint mobilisation. There were 3 sessions per week over 4 weeks for both the groups. Numeric pain rating scale, Kujala scale, algometer and goniometer were used to assess pain and range of motion at baseline and at the end of the last session. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.

Results: Of the 60 individuals initially assessed, 52(86.6%) were enrolled; 26(50%) in each of the two groups. The overall mean age of the sample was 29.63±3.25 years. The experimental group B showed significant improvement in pain, range of motion and pressure pain threshold (p<0.05) compared to the control group A. Group B also showed significant improvement in terms of functional activities (p<0.05). Except patellar instability and weight-bearing activities, the groups showed no significant difference (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Tibiofemoral joint mobilisations with hip and knee stretching and strengthening exercises were found to be more effective in reducing pain, and increasing range of motion as well as pressure pain threshold.

Clinical trial number: Identifier: NCT04225000:https://ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/NCT04225000.

Keywords: Kujala anterior knee pain scale, Numerical pain rating scale, Patellofemoral pain syndrome, Pressure pain threshold, Tibiofemoral mobilisation..