Effect of Therapeutic Modalities on Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Abstract

Context:

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common orthopaedic condition for which operative and nonoperative treatments have been used. Therapeutic modalities have been recommended for the treatment of patients with PFPS—including cold, ultrasound, phonophoresis, iontophoresis, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, electrical stimulation for pain control, electromyographic biofeedback, and laser.

Objective:

To determine the effectiveness of therapeutic modalities for the treatment of patients with PFPS.

Data Sources:

In May and August 2010, Medline was searched using the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science Citation Index, Science Direct, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health, and Your Journals@OVID.

Study Selection:

Selected studies were randomized controlled trials that used a therapeutic modality to treat patients with PFPS. The review included articles with all outcome measures relevant for the PFPS patient: knee extension and flexion strength (isokinetic and isometric), patellofemoral pain assessment during activities of daily life, functional tests (eg, squats), Kujala patellofemoral score, and electromyographic recording from knee flexors and extensors and quadriceps femoris cross-sectional areas.

Data Extraction:

Authors conducted independent quality appraisals of studies using the PEDro Scale and a system designed for analysis of studies on interventions for patellofemoral pain.

Results:

Twelve studies met criteria: 1 on the effects of cold and ultrasound together, ice alone, iontophoresis, and phonophoresis; 3, neuromuscular electrical stimulation; 4, electromyographic biofeedback; 3, electrical stimulation for control of pain; and 1, laser.

Discussion:

Most studies were of low to moderate quality. Some reported that therapeutic modalities, when combined with other treatments, may be of some benefit for pain management or other symptoms. There was no consistent evidence of any beneficial effect when a therapeutic modality was used alone. Studies did not consistently provide added benefit to conventional physical therapy in the treatment of PFPS.

Conclusions:

None of the therapeutic modalities reviewed has sound scientific justification for the treatment of PFPS when used alone.

Keywords

systematic review patellofemoral pain syndrome therapeutic modalities

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common orthopaedic conditions in adolescents and young adults.²⁶ It is the most common overuse injury in adolescent girls.²⁶ It affects approximately 26% of young athletes¹⁴ and 7% of young active adults.^14,29 PFPS is so common in runners and other endurance athletes that it is often referred to as runner’s knee.¹⁵ PFPS is generally characterized by diffuse anterior knee pain, aggravated with specific activities that heighten the compressive loading forces across the patellofemoral joint,^6,9,24,28 including ascending and descending stairs, squatting, and prolonged sitting.^6,24,28 Altered lower extremity kinematics²⁸ and knee and hip muscle weakness²⁹ contribute to the pain and dysfunction associated with PFPS.

Both operative and nonoperative approaches are used in the treatment of PFPS, and many patients improve with nonoperative rehabilitation care.^17,26 The principal goals of a rehabilitation program for PFPS are to decrease pain and edema, correct biomechanical deficiencies, increase strength and endurance, and restore motion and function.^10,23 Among the nonoperative treatment approaches that are recommended in a rehabilitation program for PFPS are the therapeutic modalities.^{3,4,10,15,16,20,27} In addition, the American Physical Therapy Association’s Guide for Physical Therapist Practice² recommends the use of therapeutic modalities for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including PFPS.

Recommended modalities for use in patients with PFPS include

cryotherapy for reducing pain and edema^10,20,27;

thermotherapy (therapeutic heat) for local vasodilation to reduce pain and stimulate healing, in the forms of ultrasound,^20,27 moist hot packs,²⁰ and warm whirlpool²⁷;

phonophoresis^20,27 and iontophoresis²⁰ to reduce inflammation and pain;

monophasic pulsed stimulation for edema^20,27;

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain^20,27;

neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to facilitate quadriceps muscle activity, which may be helpful in muscle reeducation in those who have acute pain, edema, or significant weakness and are unable to properly activate their vastus medialis^9,10,20,27; and

electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback to promote selective activation of the vastus medialis for selective strengthening or to restore muscle balance in knee extension.^3,16,21,31

Despite the incorporation of these therapeutic modalities into the recommended treatment of PFPS patients, there has not been a systematic review of evidence for such practice. The purpose of this review is to examine the evidence basis for the use of therapeutic modalities in the rehabilitation of the PFPS patient.

Methods

Search

In May and August 2010, the literature was searched using the following databases for the years 1970 to 2010: PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science Citation Index, Science Direct, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health, and Your Journals@OVID. The database review began with a general search using the term patellofemoral pain syndrome treatment, followed by searches using the term patellofemoral pain syndrome paired with therapeutic modality, cryotherapy, cold, Cryocuff, thermotherapy, heat, diathermy, ultrasound, moist hot pack, whirlpool, electrical stimulation, TENS, NMES, biofeedback, EMG biofeedback, and laser.

Only studies in peer-reviewed journals were considered. No abstracts, dissertations, theses or articles from meeting proceedings were reviewed.

Study Selection

Studies had to meet the following criteria:

Population: principal diagnosis of PFPS; no additional knee pain diagnoses; both sexes and all age ranges included

Study design: randomized controlled trial—either direct comparison to control or 2-group (or more) comparison

Interventions: one of the therapeutic modalities as the intervention; no limitations placed on the use of concurrent treatments or the nature of control groups

Outcome measures: knee extension and flexion strength (isokinetic and isometric), patellofemoral pain assessment during activities of daily life, functional tests (eg, squats, step-up/step-down), Kujala patellofemoral score,¹⁹ and EMG recording from knee flexors and extensors (specifically comparing vastus medialis and vastus lateralis) and quadriceps femoris cross-sectional area.

Language: non-English-language studies excluded

Quality Assessment

Quality was independently assessed by both authors using the PEDro Scale²² and a second system,⁸ specifically designed for interventions for patellofemoral pain.

This system uses 4 main criteria: population, interventions, effect size, and data presentation and analysis. Each criterion is composed of 3 or 4 scored items for a total of 100 points. This scale has a high interrater reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficients for items ranging from 0.64 (for intervention standardization and description) to 0.99 (for the blinding of outcome assessors). The intraclass correlation coefficient for the total quality score was 0.97.

Results

Study Selection

Twelve studies were identified that met the criteria: 1 investigated the effects of cold and ultrasound, ice alone, iontophoresis, and phonophoresis⁴; 3 studied the effects of NMES^7,11,12; 4 investigated the effects of EMG biofeedback^16,18,21,31; 3 evaluated the effects of electroanalgesia (electrical stimulation for management of pain)^1,5,13; and 1 studied the effects of low-intensity laser therapy²⁵ (Table 1).

Table 1.

Study Characteristics.^a

Intervention	Outcomes	Results
Akarcali et al¹: 44 patients randomized to 2 groups
First group: conventional exercise, both isometric and eccentric exercises, 6 weeks, 5 times per week Second group: exercise program in addition to high-volt monophasic pulsed stimulation over the vastus medialis for pain relief, 6 weeks, 5 times per week	Pain levels Quadriceps strength	At the third week, both groups showed a significant reduction in pain and an increase in quadriceps strength; the reduction in the high-volt monophasic pulsed stimulation group was significantly greater than that in the control group (P < 0.05). At the sixth week, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in pain reduction or increase in quadriceps strength between the groups
Antich et al⁴: 53 with 67 symptomatic knees randomized to 4 groups
All received 4 exercises and 1 modality, 4 treatments over 7 to 8 days Phonophoresis: 1 mL of Hexadrol and 1 mL of 4% topical Xylocaine for 7 min Iontophoresis: 1 mL of Hexadrol and 1 mL of 4% topical Xylocaine for 20 min with Phoresor unit Ultrasound/ice massage contrast, 3 cycles of 3 min of heat with 2 min of cold Ice bags to the anterior and posterior knee for 10 min	Subjective change in “condition” Isometric quadriceps and hamstrings torque	Subjective improvement: ultrasound/ice, 47%; phonophoresis, 32%; iontophoresis, 24%; ice bags, 22% Isometric quadriceps torque increase: ultrasound/ice, 28%; phonophoresis, 13.3%; iontophoresis, 14.5%; ice bags, 5% Isometric hamstring torque increase: ultrasound/ice, 34.1%; phonophoresis, 0%; iontophoresis, 15%; ice bags, 15.4% No inferential statistics done
Avraham et al⁵: 30 patients randomized to 3 groups
All patients were randomly allocated into 3 groups Group 1: conventional knee rehabilitation program included quadriceps strengthening and TENS Group 2: hip-oriented rehabilitation included stretching, hip external rotators strengthening, and TENS Group 3: combination of the above programs TENS: 15 min, sensory level, 100 Hz, and 150-µs phase duration Two 30-minute treatments/week for 3 weeks	11-point visual analog scale Everyday function assessed by patellofemoral evaluation scale (0-100 points)	All 3 groups had significant decreases in pain and improvement in function TENS conducted in all 3 groups, so its contribution could not be assessed
Bily et al⁷: 36 patients randomized to 2 groups
One group—supervised physical therapy training for 12 weeks Second group—physical therapy and NMES applied to the knee extensors for 20 min, 2 times daily, 5 times a week, for 12 weeks at 40 Hz, with a pulse duration of .26 ms, at 5 seconds on and 10 seconds off, and maximal tolerable intensity up to 80 mA	Patellofemoral pain assessment with visual analog scale during activities of daily life Kujala patellofemoral score Isometric strength Both assessed before and after 12 weeks’ treatment, as well as after 1 year	Significant reduction of pain in both groups during activities of daily life (P = 0.003 and P < 0.001 for physical therapy and physical therapy + NMES, respectively) Significant improvement (P < 0.001) of Kujala patellofemoral score in both groups Improvement of function and reduction of pain at both the 12-week treatment and 1-year follow-up Between-group differences not significant No significant change in isometric knee extensor strength in either group Significant correlation between pain and Kujala patellofemoral score before treatment (ρ = −.54, P < 0.001), after 3 months (ρ = −.77, P < 0.001), and after 12 months (ρ = −.64, P < 0.001)
Callaghan et al¹²: 16 patients randomized to groups
One a standard sequential mixed-frequency NMES protocol (NMES-STD) NMES from a newly designed simultaneous mixed-frequency device (NMES-EXP) Both units used an asymmetrical biphasic pulse to a maximum of 90 mA at 200- to 350-µs pulse duration with a duty cycle of 10:50 Stimulation was applied for 1 hr each day, daily for 6 weeks	Isometric and isokinetic extension torque Muscle fatigue rate: frequency analysis of surface electromyogram Pain: 10-cm visual analog scale Kujala patellofemoral function questionnaire Step test and squat knee flexion Quadriceps cross-sectional area	Significant improvement (P = 0.019) in isometric quadriceps torque in NMES-STD but not NMES-EXP Significant improvement (P = 0.005) in isokinetic quadriceps torque in NMES-EXP but not NMES-STD Significant improvement (P = 0.045) in the Kujala functional questionnaire scores in NMES-STD but not NMES-EXP No change any other measure No difference between groups in any measure
Callaghan and Oldham11: 80 patients randomized to 2 groups
Customized experimental stimulator with simultaneously delivered mixed-frequency stimulation pattern (EXPER) Standard fixed-frequency NMES stimulator (EMPI) Both units used an asymmetrical biphasic pulse to a maximum of 90 to 100 mA at 200- to 350-µs pulse duration with a duty cycle of 10:50 Stimulation was applied for 1 h each day, daily for 6 weeks	Same measures as in Callaghan et al¹² (2001) Assessments at 1, 2, 3 weeks after 6-week stimulation protocol	Significant increase (P = 0.0001) in isometric strength with EXPER unit only Significant increase (P = 0.008) in isokinetic strength with EMPI unit only Significant increase (P = 0.021) in quadriceps cross-sectional area with EXPER unit only Both forms of NMES showed significant improvement in the Kujala functional questionnaire scores (P = 0.007 and 0.001 for NMES-EXP and NMES-STD, respectively)Both forms of NMES showed significant improvement in pain (P = 0.004 and 0.047 for NMES-EXP and NMES-STD, respectively) Both forms of NMES showed significant improvement in step test (P = 0.0001 and 0.0001 for NMES-EXP and NMES-STD, respectively) Both forms of NMES showed significant improvement in knee flexion (P = 0.003 and 0.0001 for NMES-EXP and NMES-STD, respectively). No changes in fatigue with either intervention No difference between groups in any measure
Can et al¹³: 30 patients with 42 affected knees randomized to 2 groups
Both groups received 4 or 5 sessions per week for 6 weeks; isometric, closed and open kinetic chain, and stretching exercises First group: 30 min, TENS with 20- to 60-µs pulses delivered at 100 Hz Second group: 5 to 6 min diadynamic current therapy with both diphase fixe and long phase components delivered at 100 Hz	Pain assessed with 10-cm visual analog scale Lysholm’ Knee Scoring Scale: 0- to 100-point scale assessing pain, edema, activities of daily life Knee function assessed by number of squats performed in 30 s Four-level activity scale measuring activities of daily life, stair-climbing, and sports and recreational activities	Significant improvements in all measures in both groups No difference between the 2 groups in any measure
Dursun et al¹⁶: 60 patients randomized to 2 groups
Knee strengthening, flexibility, proprioception, and endurance exercises Biofeedback + exercise with biofeedback training emphasizing increasing vastus medialis (VM) activity and decreasing vastus lateralis activity for 30 min/session Exercise: 5 days/week for the initial 4 weeks, then reduced to 3 days/week Biofeedback training: 3 days/week for 4 weeks	Maximum and mean electromyographic amplitudes (µV) during contraction of the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis Knee pain on 10-cm visual analog scale Score on Functional Index Questionnaire of 8 leisure activities At the start and at monthly intervals for 3 months	All measurements showed significant improvement in both groups No consistent significant difference between the groups, with the exception of vastus medialis mean, was significantly higher in the biofeedback + exercise group than in the exercise-only group at 1 month (P = 0.046), 2 months (P = 0.042), and 3 months (P = 0.036)
Harrison et al¹⁸: 113 patients randomized to 3 groups
Group 1: home program education, lower extremity stretching, and quadriceps and adductor strengthening Group 2: clinic program of activities in group 1 with patellar glides Group 3: clinic program of group 2 with patellar taping and electromyographic biofeedback Treatments: 3 times/week for 4 weeks	Score on Functional Index Questionnaire of 8 leisure activities 10-cm visual analog scale Clinical score using Patellofemoral Function Scale: 15 items scored 0 to 100 Clinical change: no change, better, or worse Knee pain threshold during step test	Significantly greater improvement in Functional Index Questionnaire in group 3 at 1 month (P < 0.05) but no difference between groups at 1 year Significantly greater improvement in visual analog scale in group 3 at 1 month for “worse pain” (P = 0.011) and “usual pain” (P = 0.016) but no difference between groups at 1 year Significant improvements in all remaining measures over study period but no significant differences between groups
Ng et al²¹: 26 patients randomized to 2 groups
Warm-up, knee extensors strengthening, proprioceptive training, and agility drills for vastus medialis oblique strengthening Exercises with biofeedback unit to increase in vastus medialis oblique activity	Vastus medialis oblique:vastus lateralis electromyographic ratio	Significant change (P = 0.016) in vastus medialis oblique:vastus lateralis electromyographic ratio only in biofeedback + exercise group
Rogvi-Hansen et al²⁵: 36 patients randomized to 2 groups
Eight treatments in 5 weeks: 17-mW, 1000-Hz GaAs laser over patella for 10 min, peroneal muscles for 1 min, and femoral nerve in groin for 1 min Sham treatment control group	Pain description 10-cm visual analog scale Body chart for pain Influence of pain on mood, gait, sleep, work, and sport Before and after interventions and at 8- to 12-week follow-up	There was improvement in pain and disability in both groups but no between-group difference between the laser and sham control groups.
Yip and Ng31: 26 patients randomized to 2 groups (probably same as in Ng et al²¹)
Warm-up, knee extensors strengthening, proprioceptive training, and agility drills aimed at vastus medialis oblique Exercises with biofeedback to increase in vastus medialis oblique activity	Patellar gliding and tilting, measured with a Vernier caliper Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Severity Scale: 1-10 Isokinetic torque of knee flexion and extension Total work per body weight (J/kg)	Both groups had significant improvement in isokinetic peak torque in work output in patellar alignments No between-group differences Decrease in pain not significant

NMES, neuromuscular electrical stimulation.

Quality Assessment

Quality scores were based on the analysis of 2 independent reviewers (D.A.L., N.H.W.). Reviewers’ scores on the patellofemoral-specific scale⁸ ranged from 19 to 79 (maximum score, 100). Average quality scores based on the use of the PEDro Scale ranged from 4 to 8 (maximum score, 10).

Discussion

Ultrasound and Ice Massage, Ice Bags, Phonophoresis, and Iontophoresis

The single study⁴ of the ultrasound and ice massage, ice bags, phonophoresis, and iontophoresis modalities reported improvement in subjective symptoms and hamstring and quadriceps strength. However, there was no control group, and no inferential statistics were performed; so, the significance of these changes cannot be determined. The quality of this study was the lowest of all articles reviewed, with a 19 of 100 on the patellofemoral-specific scale⁸ and 4 of 10 on the PEDro Scale.²² Because of the poor quality of the study and the use of an exercise program with the modalities, there is no evidence that any of these modalities are effective in treating PFPS.

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Each study postulated that selective strengthening of the vastus medialis using NMES could enhance a standard exercise protocol in reducing the symptoms of PFPS. Studies varied in quality, with a range of 57 to 79 of 100 on the patellofemoral-specific scale⁸ and 5 to 6 of 10 on the PEDro Scale.

Three studies showed improvements in several measures of pain and function.^7,11,12 Because the exercise protocol was part of the intervention in these groups, it is not possible to separate the effects of NMES from the known positive effects of exercise on PFPS.⁶ The results of these 3 studies suggest that there is no added benefit of NMES when combined with standard physical therapy.

EMG Biofeedback

Studies on EMG biofeedback varied widely in quality, with a range of 50 to 76 of 100 on the patellofemoral-specific scale of Bizzini et al⁸ and 6 to 8 of 10 on the PEDro scale.

Significantly greater short-term improvements in pain and functional measures were reported when exercise was combined with EMG biofeedback and patellar taping, compared with exercise alone.¹⁸ However, at 1 year following the intervention, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups. The decreased number of patients at the 1-year follow-up may have contributed to this lack of significance difference. Unfortunately, the effect of patellar taping cannot be separated from EMG biofeedback.

Differences in pain or functional measures between exercise and exercise combined with EMG biofeedback were not found, whereas increased recruitment of the vastus medialis/vastus medialis oblique was seen.¹⁶ EMG biofeedback may be useful in activation of the vastus medialis oblique, but this may have little impact on pain and function. Similarly, no differences in pain or functional scores were reported for an exercise program as compared with exercise combined with EMG biofeedback.^21,31 Significant improvement in the vastus medialis oblique:vastus lateralis EMG ratio was seen with the EMG biofeedback.²¹ EMG biofeedback may be able to affect the relative activation of the vastus medialis/vastus medialis oblique when compared with the vastus lateralis, but when combined with an exercise program, EMG biofeedback has no additional effect in reducing the symptoms of PFPS.

Electrical Stimulation for Pain Control

One study⁵ included TENS in all 3 experimental groups, so the effect of TENS in isolation of other treatments could not be assessed. A second study¹³ compared TENS with diadynamic current therapy, both used in combination with an exercise program, and it found no difference between the 2 pain-reducing electrical modalities. The third of these 3 studies¹ reported that when high-volt monophasic pulsed stimulation was used in combination with an exercise program, compared with the exercise program alone, there was a significant difference between the 2 groups after 3 weeks of treatment, but after 6 weeks of treatment, there were no between-group differences. Conclusions cannot be drawn about the efficacy of electrotherapy for pain control on treating the symptoms of PFPS, because in these studies, electrical stimulation was used with exercise in all groups¹³ or included in each intervention.⁵ The one study¹ that had an exercise control suggested a short-term advantage to high volt monophasic pulsed stimulation, but at the end of treatment, there was no additive effect in reducing the symptoms of PFPS.

Low-Intensity Therapeutic Laser

There was no significant difference in any measure for the laser when compared with a sham laser control in the treatment of patients with PFPS.²⁵ There was a range of variables in the treatments with laser therapy, including wavelength, power, power density, energy, energy density, treatment duration, treatment intervention time postinjury, and method of application (contact mode versus noncontact mode).³⁰ The effectiveness of laser therapy may be related to these parameters. No conclusions can be reached from this study.

Conclusions

None of the therapeutic modalities reviewed has sound scientific justification for the treatment of PFPS.

Footnotes

No potential conflict of interest declared.

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