Publications

Background: Patellofemoral osteoarthritis is a common presentation in the outpatients’ physical therapy clinics. The muscle imbalance between the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis muscles is one of the main factors that lead to the development of this condition. Objectives: To compare the effect of a squatting versus squatting with hip adduction in management of patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Design: A prospective, randomized, single-blind, pre–post-test, controlled trial. Setting: Outpatient Orthopedic Physical Therapy Clinic of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt. The study was conducted between July 2015 and September 2016. Participants: Forty female patients suffering from patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Interventions: Patients in group (A) received a traditional physical therapy program in addition to squatting exercise and those in group (B) received a traditional physical therapy program in addition to squatting with hip adduction exercise for four weeks. Main Outcome Measure: The primary outcome measures were pain on the numerical rating scale (NRS) and performance of functional activities by Kujala scale, while, the secondary outcomes were vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) amplitudes as well as the VMO:VL ratio by surface Electromyography were all considered before and after intervention. Results: Thirty patients (group (A) n=15; group (B) n=15) were randomized and analyzed. Comparing both groups post-program revealed that there was no significant difference between both groups regarding the vastus medialis oblique activity, VMO:VL ratio, pain intensity and performance of functional activities. Conclusion: Both a traditional physical therapy program in addition to squatting exercise and a traditional physical therapy program in addition to squatting exercise with hip adduction are effective in reduction of pain intensity, increase performance of functional activities, and vastus medialis oblique amplitude. However, there is no superiority of one program than the other.