Training Program and Additional Electric Muscle Stimulation for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Pilot Study

Abstract Bily W, Trimmel L, Mödlin M, Kaider A, Kern H. Training program and additional electric muscle stimulation for patellofemoral pain syndrome: a pilot study. Objectives To evaluate the beneficial effect of training in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) and influence of additional electric muscle stimulation (EMS) of the knee extensor muscles. Design A randomized clinical trial. Setting Supervised physiotherapy (PT) training and home-based EMS. Participants Patients (N=38; 14 men, 24 women) with bilateral PFPS. Interventions One group (PT) received supervised PT training for 12 weeks. The other received PT and EMS. The stimulation protocol was applied to the knee extensors for 20 minutes, 2 times daily, 5 times a week for 12 weeks at 40Hz, with a pulse duration of .26ms, at 5 seconds on and 10 seconds off. Maximal tolerable stimulation intensity was up to 80mA. Main Outcome Measures Patellofemoral pain assessment with visual analog scale during activities of daily life, Kujala patellofemoral score, and isometric strength measurement before and after 12 weeks treatment as well as after 1 year. Results Thirty-six patients completed the 12-week follow-up. There was a statistically significant reduction of pain in both groups (PT group, P= .003; PT and EMS group, P