Patellofemoral Knee Pain: Should we be splitting hairs? There is a constant push in the health world to have ‘proof’ for anything that we do. ‘Proof’ usually refers to a hard core, bullet proof research study. Unfortunately, however, the more ‘bullet proof’ or controlled a study is, the less it relates to the real world - which is not a highly controlled environment at all.
The more we refine a study down to the effect of the most miniscule flicker of a muscle, the more we tend to forget that more ‘general’ treatments can be just as effective.
Which is why I liked this study that I came across recently.
When helping patients to recover from patellofemoral pain (wonky kneecaps), us Physios have been led down a path of targeting one particular part of the quad (thigh) muscle with very specific exercises. This study compared this very specific approach, with the more general approach of strengthening the whole quad.
Look I know it’s always a nail biter before I reveal the outcome, so I’ll cut to the chase:
There was no great difference in the improvement between the ‘specific’ and the ‘general’ exercise groups. BOTH were better than no treatment at all, and basically as good as each other.
The take home:
Do SOMETHING for your injuries, rather than nothing, BUT often you can be guided by a Physio to carry out your OWN rehab with good quality general exercise, rather than needing to constantly return to the Physio again and again for ‘fancy fingerwork’.
The Physios at
