Home-Based Exercise and Patellar Bracig in the Treatment of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Objective: The quadriceps muscle group plays an important role in patellar stabilization. This study was designed to investigate the effect of a quadriceps exercise program along with a patellar brace in reducing pain and increasing function in patello-femoral pain syndrome (PFPS) patients.Materials and Methods: A total of 86 patients with PFPS were included in this study. Patients were randomized into two groups: Group 1 (n=45) received a home based exercise program only; group 2 (n=41) received the same home based exercise program along with a patellar brace. The duration of the intervention was six weeks. At the end of the therapy patients were evaluated for pain and functional capacity. Pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Pain Scale. Functional capacity was evaluated by using the WOMAC Functional Capacity Index and the Fulkerson-Shea Patellofemoral Evaluation Score (FSPES). Results: After the program, there were statistically significant decreases in the VAS and WOMAC pain scale for both group 1 and 2 (p<0.001). Also, statistically significant increases were observed in the WOMAC functional capacity index and the FSPES for both groups (p<0.001). There were no statistical differences among parameters between two groups (p>0.05).Conclusion: Addition of patellofemoral brace to the home exercise program didn’t provide statistically significant differences in decreasing pain and increasing the functional capacity in patients with PFPS. Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2010;56:100-4.