A study to determine the effectiveness of core stabilisation exercises in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome

• Main Author: Najjar, Gabrielle Mireille
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Chiropractic treatment of pain; Exercise therapy of pain
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3096

M.Tech. === This study compared the effectiveness of two different Chiropractic treatment protocols in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome. This was done in order to establish whether or not core stabilisation exercises play a role in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Thirty participants were used for this study. They were randomly placed into two groups namely; group 1 and group 2. Group 1 received strengthening exercises of the quadriceps muscle group and stretching exercises of the hamstring muscles. Group 2 received strengthening of the quadriceps muscle group, stretching of the hamstring muscles and core stabilisation exercises. Six treatments were administered over a period of three weeks with each participant receiving two treatments per week. Prior to the commencement of treatments one, three and six; each participant was objectively measured for quadriceps strength using the isometric dynamometer. The subjective measurements used in this study were the Numerical Pain Rating Scale and the Patellofemoral Joint Evaluation Scale, these were also completed prior to the first, third and sixth treatments. All the collected data was statistically analysed using the one-way Anova test, the Independent-t test and the Paired-t test. The statistical analysis revealed statistical differences on intra-group analysis for both groups involved especially between treatment 3 and treatment 6 for both the objective and subjective measurements. On Inter-group analysis group 2’s subjective and objective measurements improved by a larger amount than group 1’s. It was thus concluded that a combined treatment of quadriceps strengthening, hamstring stretching and core stabilisation exercises was the most effective treatment protocol in individuals suffering from patellofemoral pain syndrome.