Background It was well known that patellofemoral pain (PFP) has multifactorial aetiology. Increased navicular drop measures and especially more pronated foot posture in stance phase have been reported as distal factors.1,2 Foot orthosis are recommended as distal interventions but remained passive.3 For this reason, short foot exercise (SFE),4 as an active approach, may be of significant benefit in patients with PFP.
Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of SFE on pain, knee and foot biomechanics in patients with PFP.
Methods Twenty-two patients with PFP, mean age was 40.91±10.73, included in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups. The first group (KHE) was followed under the exercise program including knee and hip exercises, and the second group (SFE) was followed under SFE in addition to the same exercise program 2 days per a week for 6 weeks. At the beginning and the end of the study, for pain at walking, sitting, squatting, climbing stairs Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Kujala Patellofemoral Symptom Scale (KPSS); for knee and foot biomechanics measurement of Q angle, Navicular Drop Test (NDT), Calcaneo-tibial angle (CTA) and Foot Posture Index (FPI) were performed.
Results As a result of this study, it was found that all parameters were improved in both groups, whereas the improvements in the pain intensity (VAS) of sitting and stair activities, values of Q angles, NDT, CTA and FPI were statistically significant in SFE group compared to KHE group (p<0.05).
Conclusions In conclusion, it was shown that SFE has positive effects on pain, knee and foot biomechanics in patients with PFP. At this point, SFE is an exercise approach in order to increase the success of the rehabilitation program in patients with PFP.
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