Core Stabilization for the Treatment of Anterior Knee Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The investigators hypothesize that the use of trunk (core) stabilization exercises early in treatment combined with lower extremity exercises will enhance the outcome over lower extremity exercises alone in the treatment of young athletes with anterior knee pain.

Official Title
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The Effects of a Trunk Strengthening Program on Anterior Knee Pain in an Adolescent Athletic Population: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Conditions
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Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: core stabilization
* Other: lower extremity training only


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Subjects between 13-20 years of age clinically diagnosed with anterior knee pain. Pain should be peripatellar and should include at least 3 of the following: experienced during or after activity prolonged sitting with stair climbing or descending squatting kneeling. The subject should be active for at least 30 minutes per day. Exclusion Criteria: Previous knee surgery Signs and symptoms of a specific structural diagnosis not consistent with AKP such as meniscal, ACL, PCL, or collateral ligament tears, pain referral from hip or lumbar spine (determined during examination), traumatic patellar dislocation, an inability to adequately understand or communicate in English.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 13 Years
Maximum Age: 20 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Core stabilization<br>This arm will receive 3 weeks of core stabilization training followed by 3 weeks of lower extremity stretching and strengthening as appropriate to address impairments noted in the examination and to progress function. | Other: core stabilization<br> <br> |
| Active Comparator: Lower extremity training only<br>This arm with receive 6 weeks of impairment based stretching and strengthening to restore function. | Other: lower extremity training only<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lower extremity functional scale | LEFS is a functional scale that estimates how much the subject's function is disrupted by their condition. | 6 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kujala anterior knee pain scale | The Kujala scale measures the amount and impact of anterior knee pain on the subject's life | 6 weeks | 
| Patient specific functional scale | The PSFS rates subject's ability to do the 3 functional activities that are bothered the most by the knee pain | 6 weeks | 
| Numeric pain rating scale | The NPRS measures the subject's current knee pain | 6 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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patellofemoral pain syndrome, abdominal muscles