Hip and Knee versus Knee-Focused Exercise for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Randomised Comparison

Abstract

ABSTRACT Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a common cause of anterior knee pain, and exercise therapy is the mainstay of management. Whether the addition of hip focused exercise to knee exercise improves outcomes is of clinical interest. This paper reports a randomised comparison of hip-and-knee versus knee-focused exercise for patellofemoral pain syndrome. Seventy-eight patients were randomised to a combined hip-and-knee exercise programme or a knee-focused exercise programme over eight weeks, and pain and function were assessed. The hip-and-knee group achieved greater reductions in pain and greater improvements in function and global improvement than the knee-focused group, with a greater reduction in pain over the programme. Both programmes were safe and well tolerated. These findings indicate that adding hip-focused exercise to knee exercise improves outcomes in patellofemoral pain syndrome, supporting the inclusion of hip strengthening in musculoskeletal physiotherapy management. The single-centre design and short duration indicate areas for further investigation.

KEYWORDS: Patellofemoral Pain, Exercise Therapy, Hip Strengthening, Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Anterior Knee Pain, Function, Rehabilitation, Randomised Comparison