Brief summary, from the abstract
In adults with patellofemoral pain, a 12-week quadriceps-focused exercise programme and a 12-week hip-focused programme produced equivalent improvements in pain and function, so either approach is a reasonable starting point.
- Randomised controlled equivalence trial of 200 participants (100 quadriceps exercise, 100 hip exercise; mean age 27.2 years, 69% women).
- Change in Anterior Knee Pain Scale at 12 weeks was 7.6 for quadriceps and 7.0 for hip exercise, a difference of 0.6 points (95% CI -2.0 to 3.2; equivalence p<0.0001), within the prespecified +/-8-point margin.
- No secondary outcomes (KOOS pain, function, knee-related quality of life) exceeded the equivalence margins.
- Note: neither programme reached the minimal clinically important change threshold, so absolute gains were modest.
Clinically assessing this area? See the knee special tests.