This study will be conducted to investigate the effect of core stability exercises versus proprioceptive training in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders causing anterior knee pain, particularly during activities that increase patellofemoral joint stress such as squatting, stair climbing, running, or prolonged sitting .Core stability exercises play a fundamental role in maintaining the kinetic chain alignment between the trunk, pelvis, and lower limb. Dysfunction of the lumbopelvic-hip complex can lead to compensatory movement patterns, increasing stress on the knee joint. Strengthening the core muscles, particularly the transversus abdominis, multifidus, and gluteal muscles, enhances postural control and optimizes force transmission during dynamic activities. Proprioceptive training, on the other hand, targets sensorimotor control by enhancing afferent feedback and neuromuscular coordination. Individuals with PFPS often present with impaired joint position sense and delayed neuromuscular responses around the knee, which may contribute to joint instability and persistent pain. Proprioceptive exercises, including balance, perturbation, and kinesthetic training, improve joint stability and coordination by stimulating mechanoreceptors and enhancing central processing of sensory input.Therefore, this study will aim to fill an important gap in the current literature by directly comparing the effects of core stabilization exercises and proprioceptive training on pain intensity, pain pressure threshold, quadriceps muscle strength, and proprioceptive acuity of knee, knee joint range of motion and functional ability in patients with PFPS
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
63
core stability exercises including warm-up, main training, and cool-down phases; warm up exercises in the form of Cat-Camel exercise will be performed for 5-8 cycles to mobilize the spine and promote smooth segmental motion. The primary main training consisted of McGill's "Big Three" core stabilization exercises, which emphasize endurance and control of the deep stabilizing muscles, curl up, side bridge, and Quadrupedal stance, finallly the cool down phase had dynamic stretching at the end of each session to reduce muscle tension and promote recovery plus tradional therapy
proprioceptive training consisted of group of exercises for balance on 1 leg on a stable surface and a unstable surface. in addition to tradional therapy.
pain intensity
pain will be assessed by VAS which line on a 100 mm , where 0 indicates no pain and 100 indicates the worst possible pain.
Time frame: up to four weeks
knee disability
knee disability will be assessed by Kujala Patellofemoral Questionnaire.Which is a 13-item questionnaire including different items on pain related to functioning and activities. The categories within each item are weighted and item scores summed to provide an overall index scored from 0 to 100, where the maximum score of 100 represents no disability.
Time frame: up to four weeks
pressure pain threshold
The pressure algometer will be used to assess pressure pain threshold
Time frame: up to four weeks
knee range of motion
The electro goniometer will be used to assess knee range of motion.
Time frame: up to four weeks
knee proprioception (joint position error)
proprioception will beassesseds by electrogoniometer. The participant's knee will be passively positioned at a target angle (e.g., 30° flexion) then returned to the starting position, then the patient will be asked to actively reproduce the target angle.The absolute angular error (degrees) between the target and reproduced angles will be recorded.
Time frame: up to four weeks
quadriceps muscle strength
Quadriceps muscle strength will be measured by a handheld dynamometer.
Time frame: up to four weeks
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tradional therapy in the form of interferential therapy, knee strengthening exercises, knee strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, patellar mobilization and ischemic compression