Meta‐analyses showed no significant changes in strength for any of the interventions . •
BACKGROUND : The addition of hip strengthening to knee strengthening for persons with patellofemoral pain has the potential to optimize treatment effects .
OBJECTIVE : To examine the efficacy of hip strengthening , associated or not with knee strengthening , to increase strength , reduce pain , and improve activity in individuals with patellofemoral pain .
Effectiveness of Patellar Bracing for Treatment of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Objective : To determine the effectiveness of patellar bracing for treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome ( PFPS ) . Design : Prospect i ve , r and omized , single-blinded clinical trial . Setting : Subjects recruited from the general population of the city of Calgary . Subjects : A total of 136 subjects ( 79 females and 57 males with a total of 197 affected knees ) diagnosed with PFPS . Intervention : Subjects were r and omly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups : ( 1 ) home exercise program , ( 2 ) patellar bracing , ( 3 ) home exercise program with patellar bracing , and ( 4 ) home exercise program with knee sleeve . Outcome Measures : The outcome measurements were knee function ( KF ) and 10-cm visual analogue scale ( VAS ) pain ratings for 3 different situations : knee pain during sport activity , knee pain 1 hour after sport activity , and knee pain after sitting with knees bent for 30 minutes . The outcome measurements were assessed at baseline and at 3 , 6 , and 12 weeks . The investigators were blinded to the treatment group of each subject . Calculations were made for 95 % confidence intervals for the change in KF and VAS pain ratings from baseline measurement to 12 weeks . Results : There was no difference in the 95 % confidence intervals in the change of KF and VAS pain ratings among the 4 treatment groups over 12 weeks . Conclusions : Symptoms of PFPS improved over time in terms of pain and knee function regardless of the treatment group . Patellar bracing did not improve the symptoms of PFPS more quickly when added to a home program of leg strengthening . However , patellar bracing alone can improve the symptoms of PFPS
Meta‐analyses showed no significant changes in strength for any of the interventions . •
BACKGROUND : The addition of hip strengthening to knee strengthening for persons with patellofemoral pain has the potential to optimize treatment effects .
OBJECTIVE : To examine the efficacy of hip strengthening , associated or not with knee strengthening , to increase strength , reduce pain , and improve activity in individuals with patellofemoral pain .