Effect and Comparison of Core Stability and Abductor Strengthening Exercises with ‎Mobilization on Pain, Function, and Quality of Life Among Elderly Males with ‎Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

The patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common diseases of the knee joint that causes pain, dysfunction, and reduces the quality of life in the elderly. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of core exercise stability and strength training of hip abductors with mobilization exercise on pain, functional disability, and quality of life in elderly patients with PFPS.

Twenty elderly male patients with PFPS were purposefully selected and randomly and equally divided into two groups of central stability training group (age 63.7 ± 3.19 years, height 173.1 ± 6.2, weight 76.8 ± 7.92 kg) and mobilization exercise group (age 65.2 ± 3.22 years, height 174.3 ± 7.64, weight 77.5 ± 7.98 kg) were located. The first experimental group performed core stability exercises and strengthening the hip muscles for six weeks (three sessions, 45 minutes each session), and the second group performed mobilization exercises during the same period. Before and after the training protocol, the research variables were measured by using questionnaires for pain intensity (visual analogue scale), functional disability, and quality of life. For data analysis, repeated measures ANOVA with a significance level of p= 0.05 was used.

The results of this study showed a significant decrease in pain factors, functional disability, and quality of life in the groups of core stability exercises and strengthening the hip flexor muscles (p<0.05) and a significant decrease in pain intensity, performance, and quality in the mobilization training group. The number of variables in the two groups was not significant. But the effect size indicated that the exercises for core stability and strengthening of the hip flexor muscles were better in all variables (p>0.05).

According to the results obtained from this study, it can be concluded that core stabilization exercises, strengthening hip abductor muscles, and mobilization exercises decrease pain and functional disability and increase quality of life. So, it is possible to use each exercise as a training method in the rehabilitation program of elderly patients with patellofemoral pain.