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 .
The effects of isolated hip abductor and external rotator muscle strengthening on pain, health status, and hip strength in females with patellofemoral pain: a randomized controlled trial.
STUDY DESIGN R and omized controlled trial . OBJECTIVES To examine the effectiveness of isolated hip abductor and external rotator strengthening on pain , health status , and hip strength in females with patellofemoral pain ( PFP ) . BACKGROUND Altered hip kinematics result ing from hip muscle weakness has been proposed as a contributing factor in the development of PFP . To date , no study has examined clinical outcomes associated with isolated hip muscle strengthening in those with PFP . METHODS Twenty-eight females with PFP were sequentially assigned to an exercise ( n = 14 ) or a no-exercise control group ( n = 14 ) . The exercise group completed bilateral hip abductor and external rotator strengthening 3 times per week for 8 weeks . Pain ( visual analog scale ) , health status ( WOMAC ) , and hip strength ( h and held dynamometer ) were assessed at baseline and postintervention . Pain and health status were also evaluated at 6 months postintervention in the exercise group . Two-factor mixed-model analyses of variance were used to determine the effects of the intervention on each outcome variable . RESULTS Significant group-by-time interactions were observed for each variable of interest . Post hoc testing revealed that pain , health status , and bilateral hip strength improved in the exercise group following the 8-week intervention but did not change in the control group . Improvements in pain and health status were sustained at 6-month follow-up in the exercise group . CONCLUSION A program of isolated hip abductor and external rotator strengthening was effective in improving pain and health status in females with PFP compared to a no-exercise control group . The incorporation of hip-strengthening exercises should be considered when design ing a rehabilitation program for females with PFP . LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapy , level 2b
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 .