Does Whole-Body Vibration Training Along With Short Foot Exercises Influence Electrophysiological and Functional Activities in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome? A Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Background: Whole body vibration (WBV) is an emerging technique that confirms its effectiveness in treating various conditions like stroke, post ACL reconstruction, and cerebral palsy. However, scientific findings regarding the efficacy of WBV training on inhibition of vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) that occurs in patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is lacking. The literature confirms the effectiveness of short foot exercises (SFEs) in reducing knee pain and its influence on valgus stress of the knee joint. This study investigated whether SFE on WBV can have an impact on recruitment and functioning of VMO. Objective: To study the effectiveness of SFE performed with and without WBV on VMO recruitment and functional activities in PFPS. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two subjects aged 20–40 years with PFPS were recruited and randomly allocated into two groups. Group 1 (n = 26) received SFE on WBV, whereas group 2 (n = 26) received SFE on a stationary platform. Both groups received treatment for 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Surface electromyography (sEMG) and the Kujala patellofemoral score (KPS) were measured before and after 4 weeks of treatment. Within group analysis was carried out using Wilcoxin matched pair test and Mann Whitney U test was used for intergroup analysis. Results: Wilcoxon signed ranks test revealed no significant differences in sEMG in both groups, whereas KPS showed significant improvements after 4 weeks of intervention (P < .001). Mann–Whitney U test revealed a statistically significant difference in KPS between both groups, with a P value of 0.042. Conclusion: SFE with WBV as well as SFE alone improves functional activities in PFPS.

Keywords

• emg
• kujala patellofemoral score
• patellofemoral pain syndrome
• short foot exercises
• vastus medialis obliquus
• whole body vibration