A Systematic Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Physical Therapist Management of Patellofemoral Pain

Reliability and Validity Measures of the Patellofemoral Subscale KOOS-PF in Greek Patients with Patellofemoral Pain

Background: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is one of the most common multifactorial musculoskeletal pathologies affecting the knee joint. The prevalence of PFP in the general population ranges from 11% to 17%, with higher rates observed in specific groups such as females, runners, military personnel, and young athletes. To assess symptoms associated with PFP, the patellofemoral subscale (KOOS-PF) was developed, consisting of 11 questions that evaluate pain, stiffness, and quality of life. The KOOS-PF scale has already been validated and shown to be reliable in both its Spanish and Arabic versions. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the KOOS-PF scale in the Greek language among the Greek population with patellofemoral pain. Methods: Fifty-five participants aged 18-65 years who suffered from PFP were evaluated in two phases on the first and third days to determine the reliability and validity of the measures of KOOS-PF in the Greek language. Construct validity was assessed using the knee outcome survey scale-activities of daily living scale (KOS-ADLS). Reliability was measured through repeated measurements (test-retest) using intraclass coefficient correlation (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and smallest detectable difference (SDD). Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's coefficient a. The significance level was set at 5% (α = 0.05). Results: The KOOS-PF measures showed high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.87, p = 0.05) and high test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.95, p = 0.05, SEM = 3.7, SDC = 13.57). Additionally, the Greek version of the KOOS-PF exhibited high construct validity when correlated with the KOS-ADLS scale (r = 0.72, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The KOOS-PF scale displayed high reliability and construct validity for measuring patellofemoral pain in the Greek population.

Differences in content of care and outcomes between a clinical practice guideline adherent program and usual care for patellofemoral pain: A retrospective pilot study

BACKGROUND

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common knee condition in young and active individuals that is managed with highly variable treatment strategies.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the length, number of visits, and content of physical therapy care for patients with PFP differ between a Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) adherent program and usual care. Additionally, the percentage of patients reporting clinically important improvements in patient-reported outcomes in each group was evaluated as an exploratory aim.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of clinical data.

SETTING

Military outpatient physical therapy clinics.

PATIENTS

Thirty-two patients who received CPG-adherent care and 46 patients who received usual care.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients in the CPG-adherent group were classified into overuse/overload, movement coordination deficits, muscle performance deficits, or mobility impairments subcategories based on CPG-recommended examination procedures and received the CPG-recommended interventions. Patients in the usual care group received interventions based on clinical expertise and organizational practice standards.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

Length of care, number of visits, and intervention content were used as primary outcomes. The Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS), Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS), and Global Rating of Change (GROC) scores were used as secondary outcomes. These scores were extracted from routinely collected health data available in medical records; as a result, not all patients completed these outcomes during the follow-up time points because they were optional.

RESULTS

The number of physical therapy visits and percentage of patients receiving knee-targeted exercises, soft tissue mobility interventions, neuromuscular reeducation, patient education, patellar taping, and foot orthoses were greater in the CPG-adherent group compared to usual care (p < .05). Additionally, most patients in the CPG-adherent group reported clinically meaningful improvements in secondary outcomes: AKPS (1 month: 13/23; 3 months: 11/16), DVPRS (1 month: 11/20; 3 months: 8/14), and GROC (1 month: 14/22; 3 months: 11/16). In contrast, fewer than half of the patients in the usual care group reached clinically meaningful thresholds: AKPS (1 month: 1/17; 3 months: 3/8), DVPRS (1 month: 3/15; 3 months: 3/7), and GROC (1 month: 2/12; 3 months: 2/7).

CONCLUSION

The content of the CPG-adherent care was significantly different versus usual care and associated with meaningful changes in outcomes. Several CPG-recommended interventions appeared to be underused in usual care, underscoring the value of further CPG adoption.

Best practice guide for patellofemoral pain based on synthesis of a systematic review, the patient voice and expert clinical reasoning

OBJECTIVE

Define a best practice guide for managing people with patellofemoral pain (PFP).

METHODS

A mixed-methods convergent segregated synthesis of meta-analysed data with a thematic analysis of semistructured interviews and focus groups. Agreement between subproject results informed the strength of clinical recommendation for interventions eligible for best practice recommendation.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, reference lists and citation tracking; semistructured interviews of people with PFP; and semistructured interviews and focus groups with clinical experts.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

High-quality (PEDro scale >7) randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were retained for efficacy estimation using meta-analysis. People with PFP were required to have experienced an episode of care in the past 6 months and clinical experts were required to have>5 years of clinical experience alongside direct involvement in research.

RESULTS

Data from 65 high-quality RCTs involving 3796 participants informed 11 meta-analyses of interventions. Interviews with 12 people with PFP led to 3 themes and interviews with 19 clinical experts led to 4 themes. These were further explored in three clinical expert focus groups. Best practice for PFP should first involve understanding a patient's background risk factors, their reasons for seeking care, greatest symptoms, and physical impairments, to inform treatment selection. Synthesis led to six distinct interventions being recommended. Knee-targeted±hip-targeted exercise therapy underpinned by education should be delivered, with additional supporting interventions such as prefabricated foot orthoses, manual therapy, movement/running retraining, or taping decided on and tailored to a patient's needs and preferences.

CONCLUSION

A best practice guide based on a synthesis of three data streams recommends that exercise therapy and education be delivered as the primary intervention for people with PFP. Prescription of other supporting interventions should be aligned with the individual patient's particular presentation following a thorough assessment.

Survey of Confidence and Knowledge in Managing Patellofemoral Pain among Physical Therapists in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

This study assessed the beliefs and knowledge of physical therapists in Saudi Arabia regarding the management of patellofemoral pain (PFP) and their alignment with current Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs).

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted, involving 111 licensed physical therapists actively treating PFP patients. The survey included questions about PFP risk factors, prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment, using a Likert scale to measure confidence and knowledge.

RESULTS

Readers have significantly greater confidence in the knowledge of managing patients with PFP following current CPGs (p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed between groups in the other items (p > 0.01). However, over 70% of respondents, irrespective of guideline familiarity, held beliefs about risk factors, prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment that were inconsistent with CPGs.

CONCLUSIONS

These discrepancies highlight a significant knowledge gap that may affect patient care quality. Enhancing education and dissemination efforts regarding CPGs is essential to improve adherence to evidence-based practices among physical therapists in Saudi Arabia. To change practitioners' preferences, attitudes, and beliefs, more targeted programs and interventions for knowledge dissemination and implementation should be provided.

The Impact of Outpatient Physical Therapy on Patient-Reported Outcomes After Lumbar Fusion: Perspective from A Bundled Care Dataset

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND

As value-based care grows in popularity across the United States, more payers have turned toward bundled payment models for surgical procedures. Though episode costs in spine are highly variable, physical therapy (PT) has been identified as a driver of 90-day cost. The goal of this study is to assess the impact of postoperative PT on patient-reported outcomes and cost after lumbar fusion surgery using bundled insurance data.

METHODS

Bundled payment information of lumbar fusion episodes-of-care (EOC) from 2019 to 2021 was reviewed at a single, urban, tertiary care center. EOC comprised a 210-day period surrounding the date of the procedure, beginning 30 days preoperatively and ending 180 days postoperatively. Patients were grouped into physical therapy (PT) and no physical therapy (no PT) groups based on the presence of PT claims.

RESULTS

Bivariate analysis of surgical outcomes revealed similar overall complication rates (P = 0.413), 30-day readmissions (P = 0.366), and 90-day readmissions (P = 0.774). Patients who did not participate in postoperative PT had significantly better preoperative physical component score (PCS) (P = 0.003), 6-month postoperative PCS (P = 0.001), and 6-month ΔPCS (P = 0.026) compared with patients who participated in postoperative PT. At 1-year follow-up, patients who did not participate in PT had less leg pain (P = 0.041) than those who did participate in PT.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study finds that PT after lumbar fusion is not associated with significant improvement in Oswestry Disability Index, PCS, mental component score, or visual analog scale pain scores. Additionally, the number of PT sessions a patient attends has no correlation with improvement in these outcomes.

Physical Therapists' Prognosis of Outcomes After a Hip or Quadriceps Exercise Intervention in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVE: Can physical therapists who are treating patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP) predict the outcome of a 12-week exercise intervention based on initial assessment, and what are the physical therapists' reasons for prediction? DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a randomized trial. METHODS: After the initial assessment, physical therapists were asked to predict the prognosis of 200 patients with PFP who were allocated to 12 weeks of quadriceps exercises (QEs) or hip exercises (HEs) on a 1-to-10 Likert scale, and to describe their reasoning for the prediction score. OUTCOMES: measures were changes from baseline to weeks 12 and 26 on the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (range 0-100) and a transition questionnaire (TransQ). Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the prediction. Secondly, we used a qualitative approach to summarize the physical therapists' reasoning (written notes) when predicting the outcome. RESULTS: There was no association between physical therapists' prognosis and changes in Anterior Knee Pain Scale for QE or HE at weeks 12 and 26 (slopes: -0.14 to -0.51 with wide 95% confidence intervals). There was no association between physical therapists' assessment of prognosis using TransQ for QE or HE at weeks 12 and 26 (odds ratio: 0.99 to 1.17 with wide 95% confidence intervals). CONCLUSION: Physical therapists' prognosis based on initial assessment was not associated with outcomes after 12 weeks of either quadriceps or hip exercise therapy among patients with PFP. Physical therapists' prognoses were not useful as a source of information and to identify PFP patients with poor or good projected outcomes. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2024;54(8):541-550. Epub 6 June 2024. doi:10.2519/jospt.2024.12258.

A Biomechanical Review of the Squat Exercise: Implications for Clinical Practice

The squat is one of the most frequently prescribed exercises in the rehabilitative setting. Performance of the squat can be modified by changing parameters such as stance width, foot rotation, trunk position, tibia position, and depth. An understanding of how the various squatting techniques can influence joint loading and muscular demands is important for the proper prescription of this exercise for various clinical conditions. The purpose of this clinical commentary is to discuss how the biomechanical demands of the squat can be influenced by various modifiable parameters. General recommendations for specific clinical conditions are presented.

Level of Evidence

5.

Effectiveness of telerehabilitation intervention to improve pain and physical function in people with patellofemoral pain syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common musculoskeletal condition in young and active adults. Exercise therapy is an essential part of rehabilitation in people with PFPS (PwPFPS). Telerehabilitation is an innovative treatment approach that has been used in several musculoskeletal conditions. This study aims to investigate the non-inferiority of telerehabilitation through a smartphone application, the Vito App, compared to face-to-face physical therapy on reducing pain and improving physical function, quality of life, and psychological factors.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial will include 60 PwPFPS. to a control group (face-to-face physical therapy) or an experimental group (telerehabilitation). The intervention for both groups consists of stretching, strengthening, balance, and functional exercises for 6 weeks and three sessions per week. The primary outcomes are pain intensity by visual analog scale (VAS), physical function by the Kujala questionnaire and functional tests including the bilateral squat, anteromedial lunge, and step down, and quality of life by the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire quality of life subscale. Secondary outcomes are psychological factors such as anxiety and depression assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire, kinesiophobia assessed with the Tampa scale, and pain catastrophizing assessed with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Assessments will be held in 3 phases: pre-test (before the intervention), post-test (after the 6 weeks of intervention), and follow-up (1 month after the end of the intervention).

DISCUSSION

We expect that both the control group and experimental group will show similar improvements in clinical and psychological outcome measures. If our hypothesis becomes true, PwPFPS can use telerehabilitation as a practical treatment approach. Telerehabilitation can also enhance accessibility to rehabilitation services for active adults and for people living in remote and rural areas.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) IRCT20201112049361N1. Registered on 29 October 2022.

The Role of Biofeedback in Patellofemoral Pain Conservative Treatment: A Systematic Review

This paper aims to investigate the effectiveness and the outcomes of the association between different types of biofeedback techniques and therapeutic exercises in the conservative treatment of patellar femoral pain (PFP). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines have been used and followed the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Between April and June 2023, the following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, ScienceDirect, BIOMED Central, Cochrane Library, and PEDro. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected. Following the search, 414 records were found, and after using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 RCTs were retrieved to include in this systematic review, assessing 513 patients. The association between biofeedback and therapeutic exercise may be beneficial for pain, function (AKPS), extensor muscle strength, reduction of the dynamic knee valgus and vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) (EMG) optimization. All these results were valued in the short term. Regarding the intervention type, it was possible to correlate the EMG biofeedback with the benefits of the knee extensor strength and the EMG activity of VM and VL. Conversely, using mirror, verbal, and somesthetic (hands and band) feedback seems to be linked to the reduction of the knee dynamic valgus.

Comparing the effect of intermittent blood flow restriction training and high-load resistance training in patients with patellofemoral pain: study protocol for a randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) syndrome is a common knee joint functional disorder. Blood flow restriction (BFR) training has shown promise in improving PFP; however, the effectiveness of intermittent BFR (iBFR) training remains uncertain. This study aims to compare the rehabilitative effects of iBFR combined with low-load resistance training and high-load resistance training in PFP patients and to assess the effectiveness of iBFR combined with low-load resistance training for improving PFP.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This randomised, patient-assessor blinded, controlled trial will include 42 eligible PFP patients randomly allocated to an intervention group (iBFR combined with low-load resistance training) or a control group (high-load resistance training) in a 1:1 ratio. Participants will receive interventions three times per week for 8 weeks and will be followed up for 24 weeks. The primary outcome measure is pain, and the secondary outcomes include self-reported function, quality of life, muscle strength and muscle thickness. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, 8 weeks and 24 weeks during follow-up. Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed.Collectively, we expect that the findings of this randomised clinical trial will contribute to understanding the potential benefits of iBFR training and provide insightful guidance for developing more effective treatment strategies for patients with PFP.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was approved by the Sports Science Experiment Ethics Committee of Beijing Sport University (2022274H). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Trial results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300068281).

Recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review of clinical practice guidelines

OBJECTIVES

Guideline adherence for hip and knee osteoarthritis management is often poor, possibly related to the quality and/or inconsistent recommendations. This systematic review of hip and knee osteoarthritis guidelines aimed to appraise the quality and consistency in recommendations across higher-quality guidelines.

METHODS

Eight databases, guideline repositories, and professional associations websites were searched on 27/10/2022. Guideline quality was appraised using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II tool) (six domains). Higher quality was defined as scoring ≥60% for domains 3 (rigour of development), 6 (editorial independence), plus one other. Consistency in recommendations across higher-quality guidelines was reported descriptively. This review was registered prospectively (CRD42021216154).

RESULTS

Seven higher-quality and 18 lesser-quality guidelines were included. AGREE II domain scores for higher-quality guidelines were > 60% except for applicability (average 46%). Higher-quality guidelines consistently recommended in favour of education, exercise, and weight management and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (hip and knee), and intra-articular corticosteroid injections (knee). Higher quality guidelines consistently recommended against hyaluronic acid (hip) and stem cell (hip and knee) injections. Other pharmacological recommendations in higher-quality guidelines (e.g., paracetamol, intra-articular corticosteroid (hip), hyaluronic acid (knee)) and adjunctive treatments (e.g., acupuncture) were less consistent. Arthroscopy was consistently recommended against in higher-quality guidelines. No higher-quality guidelines considered arthroplasty.

CONCLUSION

Higher-quality guidelines for hip and knee osteoarthritis consistently recommend clinicians implement exercise, education, and weight management, alongside consideration of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and intra-articular corticosteroid injections (knee). Lack of consensus on some pharmacological options and adjunctive treatments creates challenges for guideline adherence. Future guidelines must prioritise providing implementation guidance, considering consistently low applicability scores.

Patello-Femoral Pain Syndrome: Magnetic Resonance Imaging versus Ultrasound

BACKGROUND

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound (US) in combination with clinical data could contribute to the diagnosis, staging and follow-up of Patello-Femoral Syndrome (PFS), which often overlaps with other pathologies of the knee.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the diagnostic role of MRI and US findings associated with PFS and define the range values of instrumental measurements obtained in pathological cases and healthy controls, the performance of the two methods in comparison, and the correlation with clinical data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

100 subjects were examined: 60 patients with a high suspicion of PFS at the clinical evaluation and 40 healthy controls. All measurements obtained by MRI and US examination were correlated with clinical data. A descriptive analysis of all measurements was stratified for pathological cases and healthy controls. A Student's t-test for continuous variables was used to compare patients to controls and US to MRI. Logistic regression analysis was applied to test the correlation between MRI and US measurements with clinical data.

RESULTS

Statistical descriptive analysis determined the MRI and US range values of medial patello-femoral distance and the thickness of retinacles and cartilages in pathological cases and healthy controls. In pathological cases, the retinacle results of both increased; the medial appeared to be slightly more increased than the lateral. Furthermore, in some cases, the thickness of the cartilage decreased in both techniques; the medial cartilage was more thinned than the lateral. According to logistic regression analyses, the best diagnostic parameter was the medial patello-femoral distance due to the overlapping results of the US and MRI. Furthermore, all clinical data obtained by different tests showed a good correlation with patello-femoral distance. In particular, the correlation between medial patello-femoral distance and the VAS score is direct and equal to 97-99%, which is statistically significant (p < 0.001), and the correlation with the KOOS score is inverse and equal to 96-98%, which is statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI and Ultrasound examination in combination with clinical data demonstrated high-value results in the diagnosis of PFS.

Six Treatments Have Positive Effects at 3 Months for People With Patellofemoral Pain: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of nonsurgical treatments on pain and function in people with patellofemoral pain (PFP). DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis. LITERATURE SEARCH: We searched MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from their inception until May 2022 for interventional randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in people with PFP. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: We included RCTs that were scored ≥7 on the PEDro scale. DATA SYNTHESIS: We extracted homogenous pain and function data at short- (≤3 months), medium- (>3 to ≤12 months) and long-term (>12 months) follow-up. Interventions demonstrated primary efficacy if outcomes were superior to sham, placebo, or wait-and-see control. Interventions demonstrated secondary efficacy if outcomes were superior to an intervention with primary efficacy. RESULTS: We included 65 RCTs. Four interventions demonstrated short-term primary efficacy: knee-targeted exercise therapy for pain (standardized mean difference [SMD], 1.16; 95% CI: 0.66, 1.66) and function (SMD, 1.19; 95% CI: 0.51, 1.88), combined interventions for pain (SMD, 0.79; 95% CI: 0.26, 1.29) and function (SMD, 0.98; 95% CI: 0.47, 1.49), foot orthoses for global rating of change (OR = 4.31; 95% CI: 1.48, 12.56), and lower-quadrant manual therapy for function (SMD, 2.30; 95% CI: 1.60, 3.00). Two interventions demonstrated short-term secondary efficacy compared to knee-targeted exercise therapy: hip-and-knee-targeted exercise therapy for pain (SMD, 1.02; 95% CI: 0.58, 1.46) and function (SMD, 1.03; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.45), and knee-targeted exercise therapy and perineural dextrose injection for pain (SMD, 1.34; 95% CI: 0.72, 1.95) and function (SMD, 1.21; 95% CI: 0.60, 1.82). CONCLUSIONS: Six interventions had positive effects at 3 months for people with PFP, with no intervention adequately tested beyond this time point. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2022;52(11):750-768. Epub: 8 September 2022. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.11359.

REPORT-PFP: a consensus from the International Patellofemoral Research Network to improve REPORTing of quantitative PatelloFemoral Pain studies

Patellofemoral pain is a common and often debilitating musculoskeletal condition. Clinical translation and evidence synthesis of patellofemoral pain research are compromised by heterogenous and often inadequately reported study details. This consensus statement and associated checklist provides standards for REPORTing of quantitative PatelloFemoral Pain (REPORT-PFP) research to enhance clinical translation and evidence synthesis, and support clinician engagement with research and data collection. A three-stage Delphi process was initiated at the 2015 International Patellofemoral Research Network (iPFRN) retreat. An initial e-Delphi activity (n=24) generated topics and items, which were refined at the 2017 iPFRN retreat, and voted on prior to and following the 2019 iPFRN retreat (n=51 current and past retreat participants). Voting criteria included 'strongly recommended' (essential), 'recommended' (encouraged) and uncertain/unsure. An item was included in the checklist if ≥70% respondents voted 'recommended'. Items receiving ≥70% votes for 'strongly recommended' were labelled as such. The final REPORT-PFP checklist includes 31 items (11 strongly recommended, 20 recommended), covering (i) demographics (n=2,4); (ii) baseline symptoms and previous treatments (n=3,7); (iii) outcome measures (2,4); (iv) outcomes measure description (n=1,2); (v) clinical trial methodology (0,3) and (vi) reporting study results (n=3,0). The REPORT-PFP checklist is ready to be used by researchers and clinicians. Strong stakeholder engagement from clinical academics during development means consistent application by the international patellofemoral pain research community is likely. Checklist adherence will improve research accessibility for clinicians and enhance future evidence synthesis.