Electric muscle stimulation of the quadriceps in the treatment of patellofemoral pain.

OBJECTIVE

To compare a commercially available electric muscle stimulation regimen with a novel form of stimulation for the rehabilitation of the quadriceps muscle, in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

DESIGN

Double-blinded randomized trial with a parallel control group and stratified randomization.

SETTING

Home-based rehabilitation program assessed in research center.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighty patients (47 women, 33 men) with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

INTERVENTIONS

One group (EMPI) received 1 uniform constant frequency component of 35Hz. The other (EXPER) group received an experimental form of stimulation that contained 5 simultaneously delivered frequency components of 125, 83, 50, 2.5, and 2Hz. Stimulation was applied to the quadriceps muscles of the affected leg for 1 hour daily for 6 weeks, a total of 42 treatments.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Lower-limb isometric and isokinetic torque, quadriceps fatigue, knee flexion, patellar pain, a step test, quadriceps cross-sectional area, and Kujala patellofemoral score for pain before and after treatment.

RESULTS

Seventy-four patients (43 women, 31 men) completed the trial. Patients in both groups showed significant improvements in all outcomes (P<.05). No significant differences existed between the 2 stimulators in any outcome (P>.05) except for quadriceps cross-sectional area (P=.023).

CONCLUSIONS

One form of stimulation was just as efficacious as the other in improving subjective and objective measures.