Abstract
BackgroundPatellofemoral pain is a prevalent condition in the general population, especially in women, and produces functional impairment in patients. Therapeutic exercise is considered an essential part of the conservative management. The use of vibration platforms may help improve strength and function and reduce pain in patients with knee disorders. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effects of adding whole body vibration (vertical, vibration frequency of 40 Hz, with an amplitude from 2 to 4 mm) to an exercise protocol for pain and disability in adults with patellofemoral pain.MethodsA randomised clinical trial was designed, where 50 subjects were randomly distributed into either an exercise group plus whole body vibration or a control group. Pain, knee function (self-reported questionnaire) and range of motion and lower limb functionality were assessed at baseline and at 4 weeks. The experimental group performed 12 supervised sessions of hip, knee and core strengthening exercises on a vibration platform 3 times per week during 4 weeks. The control group followed the same protocol but without vibration stimuli. Differences in outcome measures were explored using an analysis of the variance of 2 repeated measures. Effect sizes were estimated using Square Eta (η2). Significant level was set al P < 0.05.ResultsStatistically significant differences were found after intervention in favour of the experimental group in the between-groups comparison and in the interaction of the experimental group before and after treatment in terms of pain perception (P = 0.000; η2 = 0.63) and function outcomes scores (P = 0.000; η2 0.39 and 0.51 for lower limb functional scale and Kujala scores respectively).ConclusionA 4-week whole body vibration exercise programme reduces pain level intensity and improves lower limb functionality in patellofemoral pain patients and is more effective than exercise alone in improving pain and function in the short-term.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04031248). This study was prospectively registered on the 24th July, 2019.
Highlights
Patellofemoral pain is a prevalent condition in the general population, especially in women, and produces functional impairment in patients
Knee pain is a common condition with a high prevalence in the general population, with patellofemoral pain (PFP) being one of the most common forms of knee pain [1]
The right lower limb side was affected for 54% of the participants (n = 27) and the left for 46% (n = 23)
Summary
Patellofemoral pain is a prevalent condition in the general population, especially in women, and produces functional impairment in patients. The use of vibration platforms may help improve strength and function and reduce pain in patients with knee disorders The aim of this investigation was to determine the effects of adding whole body vibration (vertical, vibration frequency of 40 Hz, with an amplitude from 2 to 4 mm) to an exercise protocol for pain and disability in adults with patellofemoral pain. There is no specific cause of pain in these patients and the aetiology of PFP is considered multifactorial For this reason, the diagnosis is complex and essentially based on the clinical history, always ruling out lesions of adjacent structures such as ligaments or menisci [2]. This syndrome is considered to be a ‘black hole’ in orthopaedic medicine because no single explanation clarifies the patellofemoral problem and no single therapeutic intervention can reduce all patellofemoral dysfunction [4]
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