Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• PATTYN, Els
• MAHIEU, Nele
• SELFE, James
• VERDONK, Peter
• STEYAERT, Adelheid
• WITVROUW, Erik

Titel

What Predicts Functional Outcome after Treatment for Patellofemoral Pain?

Ist Teil von

• Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 2012-10, Vol.44 (10), p.1827-1833

Ort / Verlag

Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Erscheinungsjahr

2012

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Ovid SocietyJournals and Single Titles

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Although physical therapy is known to be effective in treating patellofemoral pain (PFP), there is considerable individual variation in the treatment response. It is unclear why some patients benefit from a specific treatment while others do not experience improvement. This study, using a prospective study design, aims to identify factors that could predict the short-term functional outcome and account for the variation frequently seen in the outcome after conservative treatment of PFP. Thirty-six patients (20 female and 16 male with a mean age of 23.8 ± 6.7 yr) followed a physical therapy rehabilitation program of 7 wk. Before this treatment, all patients were evaluated on subjective symptoms (pain on visual analog scales in millimeters) and functional performance (step test expressed as highest level, single-legged hop test in centimeters, and triple-hop test in centimeters). The concentric and eccentric knee extensor strength at 60°.s(-1) and 240°.s(-1) (N.m) were measured as well as the quadriceps muscle size by calculating the cross-sectional area (cm(2)) with magnetic resonance imaging. The success of the treatment was evaluated by the functional Kujala anterior knee pain scale. A linear regression model was used to identify predisposing factors for the functional outcome. The total quadriceps cross-sectional area (P = 0.010), the eccentric average peak torque at 60°.s(-1) (P = 0.015), and the frequency of pain at baseline (P = 0.012) have been indicated as predisposing variables in the short-term functional outcome after a physical therapy rehabilitation program for PFP (adjusted R(2) = 0.46). Patients with a greater quadriceps muscle size, lower eccentric knee strength, and less pain have a better short-term functional outcome after conservative treatment for PFP.