anterior knee pain

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) leads to a decrease in the range of motion and strength of the knee muscles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PNF stretching exercises and lower extremity strengthening on knee range of motion and quadriceps muscle strength before and after local quadriceps fatigue in male athletes with PFPS.

24 male athletes (20-30 years age range) with PFPS from Tehran were randomly divided into two equal groups of PNF stretching exercises and strengthening exercises. Two groups trained for 8 weeks, 3 sessions a week for 60 minutes. The range of motion of the knee and the strength of the quadriceps were measured before and after each training session (at each testing session and after harvesting) using a digital electro goniometer (accuracy: 0/1 degrees) and Biodex isokinetic dynamometer. The data were analyzed using ANOVA with a significance level of P<0/05.

The exercise program significantly improved the range of knee motion in the extension movement (ES=0/75 and P<0/05). A significant difference was observed between the measurements before and after the test (ES=0/75). The range of knee motion in the extension movement increased by 16% in the stretching group and 11% in the strengthening group after 8 weeks. Additionally, the exercise program significantly increased the strength of quadriceps muscles (ES=0/65 and P<0/05). The comparison and post-test showed a significant difference (ES=0/75). After 8 weeks, quadriceps strength increased by 19% in the stretching group and 12% in the strengthening group.  

Both training programs were exercises, but PNF stretching exercises were better than strengthening exercises in improving knee range of motion and knee strength in athletes with PFPS. Future researches should examine the effectiveness of these interventions in female athletes.

Anterior knee pain is pain that occurs in the front and center of the knee and has a high prevalence, which is necessary to study the therapeutic effect of different methods on the pain of this disease. the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of treadmill use on pain in patients with anterior knee pain syndrome.

This study was performed on 136 patients with anterior knee pain syndrome (68 patients in the treadmill group and 68 patients in the control group). After recording demographic information and clinical notes, patients were randomly assigned to two groups and pain was recorded after intervention in both groups. The statistical test of Kai Square, Mann-Whitney and independent t was used to compare the data.

The results of our study showed that the difference between mean pain score before the intervention and in the first week was not statistically significant among patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome in both treadmill and control groups, but in the fourth and eighth week in patients with treadmill group it was less significance than the control group, and this difference remained significant in people under the age of 25 with a BMI greater than 25.

Due to the prevalence of patellofemoral pain syndrome, especially in young people, additional treadmill treatment should be done along with standard treatment for patients to improve the patients’ pain in short term and increase the quality of life of them.