Investigation of the Effect of Pilates Exercises on Patellofemoral Pain

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Pilates exercises in Patellofemoral pain patients compared to hip and knee combined exercises in improving pain, muscle strength, flexibility, function and quality of life in short term.

Patellofemoral pain is a common condition characterized by pain in anterior knee, around the kneecap. It is known that exercise is beneficial in rehabilitation in general. Exercise programs applied to patients with PFP should include hip and knee-targeted combined exercises. Nowadays, Pilates is used as an effective rehabilitation tool for individuals with musculoskeletal problems, especially in reducing pain and improving function. Therefore, we believe that Pilates exercises can be effective in PFP Considering that PFP is a chronic condition and exercise therapy is one of the main strategies in the treatment. Pilates may be preferred as one of the alternative treatment method. This randomized controlled study was designed to compare the effects of two different treatment protocols, Group-I (Supervised Rehabilitation) and Group-II (Pilates Exercises). Patients who applied to the Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Sports Medicine outpatient clinic and were diagnosed with PFP by a specialist physician based on the patient histories, physical examinations, and diagnostic imaging. Thirty-six patients (Supervised Rehabilitation n=18, Pilates Exercises n=18) of both sexes, ages ranging from 18-45 years. A computer generated randomization list was used to divide the patients into two groups (https://www.randomizer.org/). An 'Informed Consent Form' was obtained from patients by explaining the purpose of the study, the duration of the study, the treatments to be applied, and possible side effects.

The supervised rehabilitation focused mainly on strengthening the hip-knee muscles and flexibility exercises for the gastrocnemius and hamstring muscles. Hip and knee targeted strengthening and stretching exercises will be applied for 6 weeks, two sessions a week 12 sessions of all exercises, 3 sets, and 10-15 repetitions of each set.

The principles of Pilates exercises will be taught to the patients in the first session, and the evaluation will be made. The exercises, including basic training exercises in the first week, will be performed for 6 weeks, each session lasting 45 minutes, two days a week, each exercise for 8-12 repetitions. The Pilates exercises, consisting of gradually increasing strengthening will be applied under the supervision of a physiotherapist.

The program will be applied with the Pilates exercises every week. All patients were evaluated before and after the treatment (6 weeks).

The numerical NPRS is used to measure and monitor the severity of pain. The patients will be asked to rate the severity of the current pain level between 0 and 10 (0 being "no pain" and 10 being the "worst imaginable pain").

Quadriceps strength will be measured using the Lafayette Manual Muscle Tester (Lafayette Instrument-model 01165, USA) handheld dynamometer.

The short form SF-36v2 will be used to assess the quality of life. The scale, designed to assess the quality of life, covers physical, social, and psychological conditions.

Inclusion Criteria: Having characteristic signs of PFP (retropatellar or peripatellar pain) Presence of at least 3 points of retropatellar or peripatellar pain on the Numbered Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) with squatting, climbing stairs, prolonged sitting, or functional activity that burdens the PFP Presence of any of the criteria such as tenderness, small effusion in the patellar facet palpation Exclusion Criteria: Patellofemoral dislocation, subluxation, intra-articular knee pathology Previous lower extremity surgery, and knee-related trauma A history of hip pathology or neurological disorders Knee trauma in the last 1 month