Effects Of Whole-body Vibration Training Combined With Hip-knee Muscle Strengthening Training On Adult Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of whole-body vibration(WBV)training combined with hip-knee muscle strengthening training on adult patellofemoral pain syndrome(PFPS).Methods: Thirty-six adults with PFPS were included in this study and randomly assigned to either a combined training group(Group B)that received WBV training plus hip-knee muscle strengthening training(n=18)or a control group(Group A)that performed hip-knee muscle strengthening training only(n=18).The two groups were trained for a total six weeks(three sessions per week,and forty minutes per session).Each session included a five-mintue warm-up,thirty-minute training,and five-minute finishing activity.Furthermore,hip-knee muscle strengthing training time in group B was half of that in group A,while the other parameters remained the same.The training was performed according to a gradual principle through the whole process.All patients were evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale(VAS),Anterior Knee Pain Scale(AKPS),Short Form-36(SF-36)before and after treatment.The sEMG signal from quadriceps and gluteus medius of the pain knee were collected before and after treatment,and the Root Mean Square(RMS)and Median Frequency(MF)values were calculated.In addition,patients were followed up at 3weeks,6weeks and 12 weeks after the intervention.Data were presented in the form of mean and standard deviation.SPSS software was used to statistically analyze the data to determine potential significant difference.Results: The results were statistically significant between before and after treatment in terms of VAS values(p<0.01),AKPS values(p<0.01),PhysicalFunctioning(PF)values(p<0.05),Bodily-Pain(BP)values(p<0.05),RMS and MF values(P<0.05)of quadriceps and gluteus in group A and group B.Role-physical(RP)value was significant after the intervention in group B(p<0.05).However,only Physical-Functioning values improvement showed a significant difference(p<0.05),no more significant differences were observed in comparison between groups(p>0.05).Conclusion: The WBV training plus hip-knee strengthening training and hipknee strengthening training can both have a significant effect in the treatment of PFPS.However,there is no evidence to show a significant difference between the two training in treating PFPS.Therefore,the WBV plus hip-knee strengthening training is an effective treatment for PFPS.