Research Information System
PAIN CLINIC, vol.15, no.2, pp.179-184, 2003 (SCI-Expanded)
The purpose of this study was to compare different treatment procedures and evaluate their efficiency in patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Eighty patients with PFPS were included in this study. They were divided into 4 groups according to the different treatment programmes: group 1 (n = 20): ice, electrical nerve stimulation, medial patellar glide and exercise; group 2 (n = 20): ice, electrical nerve stimulation, patellar taping and exercise; group 3 (n = 20): ice, patellar taping and home exercises; group 4 (n = 20): ice and home exercises. Pre- and post-treatment evaluations, included pain, congruence angle, sulcus angle and patellar tilt angle obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Q angle, Cincinnati Knee Activity Rating Scale, hamstring and iliotibial band (ITB) flexibility, thigh circumference measurement and leg-length discrepancy. Statistically significant differences were found in all groups between pre- and post-treatment results in all tests, except sulcus angle. Results in groups 1 and 2 were significantly better than in groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). We conclude that controlled exercises work better-than home programmes.