Do exercises for patellofemoral pain reflect common injury mechanisms? A systematic review

Objectives Current best evidence has reported that therapeutic exercise programs are designed to treat patellofemoral pain (PFP) should include both hip and knee specific exercises. The purpose of this review was (1) examine the quality/comprehensiveness reporting in field; (2) quantify extent which individual exercises comprised task-specific elements (single limb stance; eccentric control hip; rotational z-axis control) most likely address key pathomechanics associated with PFP. Design Systematic review: a systematic survey RCTs. Methods PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) SPORT Discus databases were searched for randomized controlled trials addressed PFP utilizing proximal focused rehabilitation paradigm. evaluated, each extracted analysis. Quality assessments included PEDro Scale Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT) utilized score interventions. Results 19 studies final 178 total from programs. analyzed inclusion align underlying biomechanical mechanisms. Conclusions vast majority sagittal plane, concentric, non-weight bearing exercises, whereas multiplanar single weightbearing, where loading directed around longitudinal z-axis, considerably under-represented. utilize simplistic frameworks lack progression into more task exercise, not reflective complex injury etiology.