SUBJECT AND OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH The term patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is defined as retropatellar or peripatellar pain that occurs as a result of physical and biomechanical changes that causes pain in the anterior part of the knee related to changes in the patellofemoral joint.
Patellofemoral pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems, accounting for approximately 9-10% of all musculoskeletal complaints and 20-40% of all knee problems. PFPS is frequently encountered among young, physically active individuals. It is a common knee problem. It occurs most frequently in women, athletes and soldiers.
Many factors such as decrease in quadriceps femoris strength, decreased flexibility, activity mismatch between vastus medialis obliqua and vastus lateralis obliqua muscles, rotations between femur and tibia, excessive subtalar pronation, positional changes in the kneecap have been associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome. In a systematic analysis, it was observed that patients with PFPS had a decrease in the abduction/external rotation/extension strength of the affected side when compared to healthy individuals.
In a guideline regarding foot problems; It has been reported that foot pronation causes internal rotation of the tibia or femur (femoral anteversion), which disrupts the patellofemoral mechanism, while the pessary sergeant places more stress on the patellofemoral mechanism, especially when a person is running, since less softening and a harder contact are provided for the leg when the foot hits the ground.
In a controlled study involving patients with chronic PFPS, it was found that there was no significant difference between arthroscopy and home exercise program compared to home exercise alone, and home exercise alone was very effective.
The target in PFPS rehabilitation; to restore the functions of the joint and relieve pain. The first step in traditional rehabilitation is to strengthen the Quadriceps femoris (QF) and Vastus medialis obliqua (VMO) muscles. The treatment program consists of Open kinetic chain/Closed kinetic chain (ACZ/CHZ), stretching (iliotibial band, QF, hamstring, gastrocnemius, gastrocsoleus) exercises.
It was concluded that isokinetic exercises prevent extensor strength loss in patellofemoral pain syndrome, but they are not sufficient alone. In another study, it was found that hip strengthening exercises in addition to knee strengthening exercises were more effective in both improving function and reducing pain in sedentary women with PFPS than the group performing knee strengthening exercises alone. it was observed that the pain decreased more in the group in which both closed kinetic chain exercises and hip strengthening exercises were given compared to the group given only closed kinetic chain exercises.
In a randomized controlled study, core neuromuscular training was given in addition to routine physical therapy, and it was observed that patients improved more than routine physical therapy. In another study, core muscle strengthening exercises were given in addition to routine physical therapy and it was observed that it improved both pain and dynamic balance in patients compared to routine physical therapy alone.
Weight-bearing exercises are more functional than non-weight-bearing exercises because they require multi-joint movement, facilitate a functional muscle recruitment pattern, and stimulate proprioceptors. Because of these advantages, clinicians often recommend weight-bearing exercises in the rehabilitation of PFPS patients.
One systematic analysis determined the efficacy of physical exercise as a conservative treatment for patellofemoral pain syndrome by looking at the results of ten moderate to high quality clinical studies and showed that the most effective patellofemoral pain syndrome management included strengthening exercises for the hip at baseline. Due to their role in knee biomechanics, the addition of stretching exercises for the external rotator and abductor muscles, core muscles and proprioceptive, neuromuscular exercises " reduces pain in patellofemoral pain syndrome".
In the light of all these studies, when the literature was examined, very few studies were found that examined the effect of core stabilization exercises in individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome, and these studies were only studied on certain parameters on women. The aim of this randomized controlled study; To investigate the multifactorial effectiveness of core stabilization exercises applied in patients diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Research Questions and Hypotheses:
What are the effects of core stabilization exercises in patellofemoral pain syndrome? H0: Core stabilization exercises are not effective on pain, functional level, balance, flexibility, muscle strength, normal joint movement, posture in patellofemoral pain syndrome.
H1: effective. Core stabilization exercises are effective on pain, functional level, balance, flexibility, muscle strength, normal joint movement and posture in patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Material and Method:
The study was planned as a randomized controlled trial. The number of volunteers to take part in the study was determined using the G-Power program. In the study, the randomized controlled study of 'Foroughi et al.' 45 named "Effects of Isolated Core Postural Control Training on Knee Pain and Function in Women with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: α=0.05, power 80% and effect size 0.3 were taken as an example. As a result of the calculations, it was found that there should be a total of 18 people, 9 people in each group. However, for a good statistical calculation or for the loss of cases, it was decided to take twice the result of this calculation. A total of 40 people, 20 people in each group, will be included in the study.
20/60 years old/with retropatellar pain that occurs during at least two of the activities and persists for at least one month While patients diagnosed with PFPS were included in the study; Patients with meniscus and ligament lesions , osteoarthritis , patellofemoral dislocation and/or subluxation history, osseous anomalies and history of knee surgery , pregnancy status, and patients using analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs will not be included in the study.
Individuals will be divided into two groups by computerized randomization. Control group; Traditional patellofemoral pain syndrome exercises, (n=20) Core stability group; Core stabilization and hip exercises will be given in addition to traditional patellofemoral pain syndrome exercises. (n=20) After obtaining the demographic information of the cases change, before and after the treatment; Visual analog scale (VAS) change, Kuala scale change, Trunk forward flexion flexibility change, Hamstring muscle flexibility change, Sit-reach test change, Q angle measurement change, Normal joint movement change, McGill stabilization tests change, Timed get up and go test change, Single leg jump test change, Y balance test change, Muscle strength change will be evaluated by the same person using the Corbin Posture analysis change and Foot posture index (FPI) change parameters.
IMPLEMENTATION PROTOCOL
1. Control group; traditional patellofemoral pain syndrome exercises; isometric exercises 3 sets of 10 repetitions in one session, balance exercise 30/45 sec, one leg balance exercise 45/60 sec , stretching exercises 4 sets 5 repetitions 20 sec duration, off kinetic chain (CHC) AND open kinetic chain (ACZ) exercises were planned as 3 sets for 4 weeks and 3 days a week .
2. Core stability group; In addition to traditional patellofemoral pain syndrome exercises; hip muscle strengthening exercises are 3 sets of 10 repetitions in each session, and (core) stabilization exercises are 1st and 2nd weeks 2 sets 15 repetitions 3rd and 4th weeks 2 sets 5 repetition was planned for 4 weeks and 3 days a week.
While the patients will be exercised with a physiotherapist 1 day a week, the treatment will be followed as a home exercise program 2 days a week.
