The Effect of Strengthing Core Stabilization Training and the Knee Strengthening Training on Improving Pain in Older Women Athletes with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems in the elderly that Can affect their daily activity. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of a period strengthening core stabilization exercise with the Knee strengthening exercises on improving pain in female athletes with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.

In this study, 20 female athletes with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome participated. They were accidentally divided into two groups: strengthening core stabilization exercise (10 people( and strengthening knee exercise (10 people). A visual analog scale measured patients’ pain before and after eight weeks of practice interventions. Paired t-test and independent t-test were used at the significant level of (P<0.05) to analyze the results.

This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Bu Ali Sina University Hamedan (Code: IR.BASU.REC.1398.032).

 The results showed that the pain level in both groups decreased significantly after strengthening core stabilization exercises (P=0.006) and the Knee strengthening exercises (P=0.000). Although intergroup comparison did not show a significant difference in the results (P̀=0.064), the calculation of the effect showed a more significant effect of strengthening knee exercise [ES=1.8) on the improvement of pain compared to the strengthening core stabilization group (ES=0.7).

The results showed that knee strengthening and core stabilization exercises reduced the pain. But due to the higher effectiveness of knee strengthening exercises in improving pain, it is recommended to use this protocol to reduce the pain of these patients.