Conservative management of patellofemoral pain

Abstract

38 knees of 27 patients with patellofemoral pain were treated by a home exercise program. There were 22 females and 5 males whose ages averaged 28 years (range, 16-45 years). The duration of symptoms varied between one month and ten years (av. 2 years). Follow-up was 6 to 36 months, average 18 months. No exercises had been done to nine knees. The efficiency of the exercise program was 10% to 90%, average 41% for the remaining 29 knees. At the last follow-up there was an average 12 point increase (from 74 to 86) modified Lysholm scores. 27 knees (71 %) had better modified Lysholm scores. Tegner activity levels increased from average 3.3 (2-7) to average 3.8 (2-9). Only two patients (four knees) accepted operation. These results led us to conclude that a tnal of conservative treatment should be done pnor to any surgical procedure including arthroscopy. The success rate might be even higher with a supervised physiotherapy program.