Review Article
Year: 2022 | Month: January-March | Volume: 7 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 246-258
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijshr.20220138
Physiotherapy for Anterior Knee Pain - A Narrative Review
Manali K Shah1, Megha S Sheth2
1PhD Scholar, Gujarat University and Assistant Professor, L J Institute of Physiotherapy, L J University, Ahmedabad
2Lecturer, S.B.B. College of Physiotherapy, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad
Corresponding Author: Manali K Shah
ABSTRACT
Background: Anterior knee pain (AKP) is a common musculoskeletal complaint including pathologies like patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), patellar or quadriceps tendinopathy and patellar instability. PFPS is the commonest of all, described as retro-patellar or anterior knee aching with diffuse pain most prominent when ascending or descending stairs, squatting, or sitting for prolonged periods with the knees flexed. It is a multifactorial condition with various treatment approaches being suggested. However, there is no clear physiotherapy protocol to be followed for the same.
Objectives: This review aimed at finding recent advances in rehabilitation approaches (non-surgical and non-pharmaceutical) for patients with PFPS in last 5 years.
Methods: 35 published articles were found from Google scholar, PubMed (NLM) and PEDrO databases and 19 studies were included in this reviewed.
Conclusion: Five treatment protocols emerged from the reviewed articles: hip and knee muscle strengthening, core muscle strengthening, patellar taping, stretching and spinal mobilization. The current review suggested that a multimodal conservative management is more beneficial in these kind of patients.
Keywords: Anterior knee pain, Physiotherapy, Patellofemoral pain.