The Effectiveness of Exercise Therapy Based on Sahrmann Approach in Patients with Patella-Femoral Pain Syndrome

Rotational impairment of the knee (excessive adduction and internal rotation of the hip during weight-bearing activities) and hip muscles weakness have been proposed as one of the risk factors of PFPS. The effects of correction of these impairments, which are not related directly to patella-femoral joint, have not been studied up to now. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of “conventional physiotherapy alone” and “combined conventional physiotherapy with exercise therapy based on Sahrmann approach” in patients with PFPS.
In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 30 patients with PFPS (aged 20-50) were participated. The participants were divided into two groups: "traditional physiotherapy group" and “Sahrmann treatment group”. In both groups, interventions were applied for 6 weeks. Patients in traditional physiotherapy group only received TENS, hot packs, ultrasound, and knee exercise therapy. But in Sahrmann treatment group, in addition to traditional physiotherapy, posterior X taping, hip muscle strengthening and functional training was used. Before and immediately after the end of 6th week, quality of life variables (using questionnaires KOOS), pain (using the Visual Analogue Scale), and position sense of the knee were measured.
FINDINGS: All of the variables including pain, KOOS scale and position sense of the knee were significantly improved in both groups (p0.05).
Essentially, using of Sahrmann approach including “posterior X taping on thigh, strengthening of hip abductor, extensor and lateral rotators muscles”, compared to conventional physiotherapy, was not result in more effective improvement in patients with PFPS.