Effects of a Squatting With Hip Adduction in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

China Medical University

Status: Completed

Conditions: PFPS

Treatments: Other: squatting with hip adduction (SQU-HA) group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06681961

CMUH106-REC1-014

Details and patient eligibility

About

An imbalance in the activation and onset time of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles may be one of the primary causes of PFPS. Several studies have discussed various exercise methods believed to selectively contract the (VMO) muscle for treating patellofemoral pain syndrome. VMO activity is higher during static closed-chain tasks combined with hip adduction, indicating that performing hip adduction exercises may selectively strengthen the VMO muscle.

Full description

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) poses challenges in motor control and pain management, especially regarding balanced muscle activation of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL). This study introduces a home-based PFPS rehabilitation approach involving a squat exercise program with hip adduction, examining its effects on motor control and clinical outcomes. Thirty PFPS participants were randomly assigned to conventional squatting (SQU) or squatting with hip adduction (SQU-HA) groups. Participants performed exercises five days a week for 8 weeks, with pre- and post-assessments capturing clinical measures and motor control indicators using electromyography (EMG). This home-based program, integrating hip adduction into squats, enhances motor control, reduces knee stress, and improves daily function, ensuring continued care post-pandemic.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 20-50 years.
• Pain around the patella at least two of the following activities¬-standing up after prolonged sitting, going up and down the stairs, running, jumping, squatting, kneeling, and high-angle knee flexion for a long time.
• Knee joint pain for ≥3 months.
• Pain level of ≥ 30 mm on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS).

Exclusion criteria

• Had a history of patellar subluxation, dislocation, or knee surgery.
• Had central or peripheral neurological pathology.
• Had an obvious knee joint deformity or lower extremity malalignment.
• Experienced severe knee joint pain (VAS) score > 80 mm), or received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, injections, or physical therapy within the past 3 months.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

squatting with hip adduction (SQU-HA) group

Experimental group

Description:

The participants stood equally on both legs on the floor with their feet shoulder-width apart and angled outward at 20°-30°. After a warm-up, the participants performed 45° squats with squeezing a Swiss ball of 18-cm diameter at a slow speed of 2 s for flexion and extension from the standing posture by using a commercial metronome. The squatting with knee flexion from 0° to 45° was the safest for people with PFPS.

Treatment:

Other: squatting with hip adduction (SQU-HA) group

squatting (SQU) group

Other group

Description:

The participants stood equally on both legs on the floor with their feet shoulder-width apart and angled outward at 20°-30°. After a warm-up, the participants performed 45° squats at a slow speed of 2 s for flexion and extension from the standing posture by using a commercial metronome. The squatting with knee flexion from 0° to 45° was the safest for people with PFPS.

Treatment:

Other: squatting with hip adduction (SQU-HA) group