Physical therapy management of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) focuses on correcting biomechanical deficiencies in addition to strengthening and stretching programs. Biofeedback and patellar taping have been advocated to correct patellar malalignment. This study evaluated the efficacy of three treatment approaches for PFPS. The subjects were 113 males and females between the ages of 12 and 35 years (mean 22.2, SD 8.2) diagnosed with PFPS. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups and assessed on five occasions over a one year period. Outcome measures included: A Functional Index Questionnaire, visual analogue scales for pain, a subjective clinical change measure, a Patellofemoral Scale and a step test. Treatments were: a home strengthening and flexibility exercise program (group 1); a similar exercise program monitored by a physical therapist, three times weekly for one month (group 2); and a comprehensive program including exercises, patellar taping and biofeedback, three times weekly for one month (group 3). Group 3 showed significant improvement (p < 0.05) at the one month reassessment compared to group 2 and group 3 showed more improvement than group 1 but this was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that a modified exercise program including patellar taping and biofeedback may result in faster improvements in PFPS patients. In the long term, results of treatment interventions were very similar.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• PDF locator
• publisher