Yue Wu, Shuang Ren, Hongshi Huang, Yingfang Ao, Bo Gou
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, Institute of Sport, Exercise & Health, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, China.
Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine of Peking University, Beijing, China.
Orthop Surg. 2025 Mar;17(3):744-752. doi: 10.1111/os.14320. Epub 2025 Jan 27.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common knee issue, and hip joint function significantly affects knee health. Gluteus activation exercises are a promising treatment for PFPS. This study aims to investigate the impact of gluteal muscle activation exercises on the muscle involvement and movement patterns of young male patients with PFPS.
Our study was a randomized controlled clinical trial study from June 2020 to December 2021, included 18 young male patients with PFPS, randomly divided into two groups: the gluteus activation group (GAG) and control group (CON), with nine cases in each group. The GAG underwent gluteal muscle activation exercises for 40 min per session, three times per week, for 6 weeks; the CON received no intervention. At baseline and after 6 weeks, the integrated electromyography (IEMG), contribution rates (CRs), and activation times (ATs) of the gluteus maximus (GM), vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (ST) muscles of the affected lower limb during stair-climbing exercise were assessed. Additionally, the explosive power (EP) of the lower limbs and the visual analog scale (VAS) pain value of the knee joint were evaluated. Paired sample t-tests and independent sample t-tests were used to compare the differences within and between groups.
After 6 weeks, the GAG showed a significant increase in the IEMG of GM by 118 ± 67.09 μVs compared to CON (p < 0.05), and an increase in the CR of the GM by 6.75% (p < 0.05). Additionally, the AT of the GM and BF was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), and the lower limb EP increased by 14.66% compared to the CON (p < 0.05). Concurrently, there was a very significant reduction in the knee VAS pain score (p < 0.01). The CON exhibited no significant changes in the EMG indices of the lower limbs, EP, and VAS before and after the 6 weeks (p > 0.05).
A 6-week gluteal muscle activation training program for patients with PFPS can adjust and optimize the IEMG, CR, and firing order of the lower limb muscle groups, enhance EP, and alleviate pain.
髌股疼痛综合征（PFPS）是一种常见的膝关节问题，髋关节功能对膝关节健康有显著影响。臀肌激活训练是一种有前景的PFPS治疗方法。本研究旨在探讨臀肌激活训练对年轻男性PFPS患者肌肉参与情况及运动模式的影响。
本研究为2020年6月至2021年12月的随机对照临床试验，纳入18例年轻男性PFPS患者，随机分为两组：臀肌激活组（GAG）和对照组（CON），每组9例。GAG组每次进行40分钟的臀肌激活训练，每周3次，共6周；CON组不进行干预。在基线期和6周后，评估患侧下肢在爬楼梯运动时臀大肌（GM）、股内侧肌（VM）、股直肌（RF）、股外侧肌（VL）、股二头肌（BF）和半腱肌（ST）的积分肌电图（IEMG）、贡献率（CRs）和激活时间（ATs）。此外，评估下肢爆发力（EP）和膝关节视觉模拟评分（VAS）疼痛值。采用配对样本t检验和独立样本t检验比较组内和组间差异。
6周后，与CON组相比，GAG组GM的IEMG显著增加118±67.09μVs（p<0.05），GM的CR增加6.75%（p<0.05）。此外，GM和BF的AT显著降低（p<0.05），与CON组相比，下肢EP增加14.66%（p<0.05）。同时，膝关节VAS疼痛评分显著降低（p<0.01）。CON组在6周前后下肢肌电图指标、EP和VAS均无显著变化（p>0.05）。
针对PFPS患者进行为期6周的臀肌激活训练计划可调整和优化下肢肌群的IEMG、CR和放电顺序，增强EP并减轻疼痛。
