Pilates-based Core Strengthening on Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Qassim University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Treatments: Other: Pilates exercises; Other: Traditional physical therapy program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05120583

RHPT/20/0049

Details and patient eligibility

About

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common musculoskeletal pain conditions that tend to become a chronic problem. PFPS is common among young adolescents, particularly in physically active individuals aged 12 to 17 years old with more prevalence among females, as it affects females 1.5 - 3 times when compared to males.

Full description

Adolescents with PFPS usually complain of retro-patellar pain (behind the kneecap) or peripatellar pain (around the kneecap) and crepitation in the knee joint, and also there is discomfort while sitting with a flexed knee for a long time. Symptoms are usually exacerbated by activities that increase the load on patellofemoral joints such as weight-bearing activities, squatting, walking up or downstairs, and running.

PFPS takes place whenever the muscles around the knee fail to keep the kneecap properly aligned, leading to abnormal lateral tracking of the patella.Overuse such as running and jumping sports, the trauma of kneecaps such as fracture, dislocation, or knee surgery may also predispose to PFPS.

Enrollment: 34 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 14 to 17 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Pain felt anterior to knee joint.
• Pain felt retro-patellar.
• Pain felt during rest and increased with activities like prolonged sitting, squatting, running, and stair climbing.
• Insidious onset lasting for more than 6 weeks.
• Without any traumatic incidence.
• Not participating in a physical therapy program for the past three months.

Exclusion criteria

• If they had a meniscal tear.
• Cruciate/collateral ligaments involvement.
• Knee osteoarthritis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• A history of knee or hip surgery.
• Patellar dislocation/subluxation.
• Traction apophysitis encompassing the patellofemoral complex.
• Any pathology in the patellar tendon.
• Spinal referred pain.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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34 participants in 2 patient groups

study group

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in the study group received Pilates exercises (25 minutes/ session). There are different types of equipment to be used in Pilates exercises to achieve different purposes; mat, Pilates band or elastic bands, and Pilate's ball were used.

Treatment:

Other: Pilates exercises

control group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in control group received the traditional physical therapy program program (60 minutes/session, three sessions /week for three months).

Treatment:

Other: Traditional physical therapy program