Biofeedback supplementation to physiotherapy exercise programme for rehabilitation of patellofemoral pain syndrome: a randomized controlled pilot study.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the efficacy of electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback supplementation to exercise rehabilitation for people with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

DESIGN

Double-blinded randomized clinical controlled pilot trial.

SETTING

Clinical setting with home programme.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-six subjects diagnosed with patellofemoral pain.

INTERVENTION

Subjects were randomly assigned into EMG biofeedback+exercise group or exercise-only group. All subjects participated in an eight-week home exercise programme, while the biofeedback group also received EMG visual feedback of their quadriceps muscle activities during the exercises.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Isokinetic knee extension strength, patellar alignments and perceived pain severity were assessed in weeks 0, 4 and 8 for all subjects. The data within and between groups were compared by repeated measures ANOVA with alpha=0.05.

RESULTS

Both groups improved in isokinetic peak torque (P=0.005), work output (P=0.037) and patellar alignments (P=0.001-0.014). Besides, there was a trend of decrease in pain (P=0.088). The biofeedback group improved faster than the exercise group in lateral patellar rotation and peak torque per body weight, although no statistically significant difference was shown.

CONCLUSION

Biofeedback supplement to the exercise programme might hasten the improvement for subjects with patellofemoral pain in the first few weeks of a physiotherapy exercise programme, but this needs further study before being used.