BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were (1) to evaluate a comprehensive treatment approach for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome and (2) to compare a training program using isometric muscle contractions with a training program using eccentric muscle contractions. SUBJECTS: Forty female patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome, aged 15 to 28 years (mean 20.2, SD 3.2), were randomly assigned to either a group using isometric muscle contractions or a group using eccentric muscle contractions. METHODS: The effects of 12 weeks of treatment, consisting of an educational component and a training program, on physical activity, pain, and muscle function were evaluated after 3 and 12 months. RESULTS: No differences were found between the two groups, except in one of the torque measurements. A reduction in pain and improvements in torque, vertical jumping ability, and physical activity level were seen in both groups after treatment. At the 12-month follow-up, 85% of the subjects were participating in sports without pain and 37 subjects rated their overall knee function as excellent or good. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: The results indicate that the improvements shown in this study may be due to spontaneous recovery over time, the education given to the subjects, the pain monitoring system, the gradually progressing training program, and the adjusted physical activity.

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