Effectiveness of Exercise Therapy Versus Spinal Manual Therapy in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: Medium Term Follow-up Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial

Interventions

The local exercise therapy group will focus on strengthening knee and hip muscles three times a week for 6 weeks. Once a week, patients will train with the support of a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist gradually increases the intensity of the exercises improving muscle endurance. The exercises will be supplemented with mobilisations of the patellofemoral joint. Twice a week, patients train at home following a prescribed exercise program writing down their work-out in an exercise journal.

The spinal manual therapy group will be treated one a week for 6 weeks. Before the first intervention an experienced manual therapist performed a clinical examination of the lower back, SIJ, hip and knee. Anatomical maps showing innervation areas of spinal nerve roots will be used to explain the regional interdependence model in the treatment of anterior knee pain. Manual therapy treatment will include manipulations of the thoracolumbar (T12-L3) region or SIJ as well as hip joint. Manipulation will be conducted if a restriction of range of motion will be found in any of the regions. Patients will also be asked to do home exercises focusing on mobilizing the thoracolumbar region and to write down their performance in an exercise journal.

The allocation of the patients to their treatment group will be concealed from the researcher that assesses the outcome measures.

Outcome measures The following baseline characteristics will be self-reported: age (in years), weight (in kg), height (in cm), duration of symptoms (in months), weekly participation in sport (yes/no), previously receiving exercise therapy treatment for the knee (yes/no). Patellofemoral chondral lesions will be graded using the Kellgren and Lawrence system for classification of osteoarthritis (grade 0 = definite absence of X-ray changes of osteoarthritis, grade 1 = doubtful joint space narrowing and possible osteophytic lipping, grade 2 = definite osteophytes and possible joint space narrowing).