ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although females with patellofemoral pain (PFP) show a decrease in hip and knee muscle strength, there is a lack of studies that associates this with postural stability. The purpose of this study was to assess the dynamic postural stability and muscle strength in the hips and knees of females with and without PFP, and to verify the association between the postural stability and the muscle strength in the PFP group. METHODS: Two groups were tested: one with 25 PFP and one with 25 asymptomatic. Postural stability was evaluated during stepping up down tasks using a force platform to determine the center of pressure (COP) excursion and velocity. A handheld dynamometer was used to assess the muscles strength. The correlation analysis was conducted between the COP variables and the muscle strength. RESULTS: The PFP group demonstrated greater total and medial-lateral COP displacement (8887.7±761.7 vs. 8129.4±691.9mm, P<0.001; 32.3±5.5 vs. 21.7±2.7mm, P<0.001) and a higher total of medial-lateral COP velocity (22.2±5.2 vs. 17.0±1.6 P=0.001). The PFP group showed weaknesses in all muscles (P<0.05), and there was a good positive correlation between the anterior-posterior displacement and the velocity of the extensor hip muscle (r=0.52, P<0.01; r=0.55, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with PFP have frontal dynamic postural stability deficit and show an association between hip extensor and sagittal plane stability.
Subject(s)
Muscle Strength , Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome/physiopathology , Postural Balance , Adult , Biomechanical Phenomena , Case-Control Studies , Female , Hip/physiology , Hip/physiopathology , Humans , Knee/physiology , Knee/physiopathology , Muscle Strength/physiology , Postural Balance/physiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA) are effective in the treatment of patients with low back pain. However, there is little evidence to support the use of one intervention over the other. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in the treatment of pain and disability in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. METHODS/DESIGN: The study design is a randomized controlled trial. Patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain of more than three months duration are recruited at Rehabilitation Center of Taboao da Serra - SP (Brazil). After examination, sixty-six patients will be randomized into one of two groups: acupuncture group (AG) (n = 33) and electroacupuncture group (EG) (n = 33). Interventions will last one hour, and will happen twice a week for 6 weeks. The primary clinical outcomes will be pain intensity as measured and functional disability. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: quality of pain, quality of life. perception of the overall effect, depressive state, flexibility and kinesiophobia. All the outcomes will be assessed will be assessed at baseline, at treatment end, and three months after treatment end. Significance level will be determined at the 5 % level. Results of this trial will help clarify the value of acupuncture and electroacupuncture as a treatment for chronic low back pain and if they are different. DISCUSSION: Results of this trial will help clarify the value of acupuncture needling and electroacupuncture stimulation of specific points on the body as a treatment for chronic low back pain. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02039037 . Register October 30, 2013.
