Effect of Twelve Weeks of Sensorimotor Training on Pain, Improvement Proprioception, Muscle Strength, and Postural Control in Men with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Single-Blind Clinical Trial

Postural control disorder has been reported in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) patients as the cause of pain, dysfunction in proprioception, and decreased muscle strength. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of 12 weeks of sensorimotor training on pain, proprioception, strength, and postural control in PFPS patients.

A semi-experimental study was carried out on 32 patients with PFPS who were randomly divided into experimental (n = 16) and control (n = 16) groups. The variables measured included pain, knee proprioception angles of 20 and 60 degrees, muscular strength quadriceps, hip abductor, and postural control, which were evaluated before and after intervention. We evaluated postural control using Biodex Device, pain with VAS scale, knee proprioception with goniometer, and muscle Strength via dynamometer. The experimental group performed sensorimotor Training for 12 weeks, 3 times per week) and 1 hour per session; however, the control group did not receive any treatment during this time. SPSS, version 21, was used for data analysis running covariance statistical method.

The results of data analysis showed that the experimental group had significant improvement in postural control index, Anterior-posterior index (P=0.002), medial-lateral Overall stability (P=0.001), pain reduction (P=0.001), knee proprioception of 20 degrees (P=0.001), knee proprioception of 60 degrees (P=0.001), muscle strength of quadriceps (P=0.002), and muscle strength of hip abductor (P=0.001) after 12 weeks of sensorimotor training.

Sensorimotor training significantly reduced pain and improved knee proprioception, muscles strength, and postural control in PFPS patients; therefore, it seems that these training can be used as a comprehensive treatment protocol for the treatment of multiple disorders in patients with PFPS.