Muscle Training With and Without Vascular Occlusion of Women With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Random Clinical Trial

Christiane Macedo24 enrolled

Overview

Introduction: The treatment of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) uses the strengthening of the knee and hip muscles. Studies propose the use of partial vascular occlusion (OVP) of the quadriceps muscle to increase muscle strength and endurance, without joint overload or discomfort to the patient. However, there is no consensus on the use in individuals with PFPS. Objective: To establish the effect of quadriceps muscle strengthening with OVP and low resistance to exercise on pain, functionality, postural control and muscle recruitment in women with patellofemoral dysfunction. Methods: Women with PFPS (n = 20) will respond to pain and functionality scales. The postural control and muscle recruitment of the quadriceps will also be evaluated in dynamic activities of single-legged squat and up / down stairs using a force platform and surface electromyography. After the initial assessment, the participants will be randomized into two groups: conventional quadriceps strengthening with greater resistance loads to exercise and quadriceps strengthening with OVP and low loads. And they will perform a six-week treatment protocol with exercises to strengthen the quadriceps. At the end of the intervention protocols, all of them will be reassessed immediately, after four and eight weeks. Expected Results: It is expected that the group submitted to exercises with OVP and lower load will present the same results of postural control and muscle recruitment compared to the conventional strengthening group. These results will indicate the possibility of using exercises and loads with less joint impairment.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Interventions

Muscle strengthening with vascular occlusionOTHER

The muscle strengthening group with partial vascular occlusion will perform the strengthening exercises: single leg squat on 25 ° inclined plane, eccentric + isometric + concentric quadriceps exercise and deep squat. The equipment for vascular occlusion will be positioned over the proximal portion of the lower limb to be treated, just below the gluteal fold and inguinal ligament (Tennent et al. 2017). The pressure must be maintained during all series of exercises (approximately 5 minutes) (Bryk et al. 2016; Ferraz et al. 2018; Giles et al. 2017). If necessary, the pressure can be adjusted at intervals and after the end of the exercise, an interval of 5 minutes is suggested for blood reperfusion.

Conventional muscle strengtheningOTHER

The conventional muscle strengthening group perform the same exercises as the intervention group: One-legged squat on a 25 ° inclined plane, eccentric + isometric + concentric quadriceps exercise and deep squat, however, without restriction on blood flow.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 45 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: Insidious onset of symptoms unrelated to trauma, pain for at least three months; pain greater than three (3/10) in at least three of the functional activities (squatting for a long time, going up or down stairs, kneeling, running, remaining in a sitting position for a long time), maximum 86 points on the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS). Exclusion Criteria: Signs and symptoms of other coexisting knee pathologies (arthrosis, prostheses, meniscal and ligament injuries), pain in other joints of the lower limb; lumbar spine pain, neurological, rheumatological, vascular and metabolic diseases; pregnancy; history of lower limb surgery; corticosteroid injection in the knee applied in the last three months, physiotherapy for knee rehabilitation in the last six months.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Pain in the knee by scale score

Through Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The score ranges from 0 to 10, the higher the score, the greater the pain.