A Prospective Randomized Study Comparing the Outcome of Electrical Stimulation of Vastus Medialis Obliquus Muscle and Physical Therapy Vs Only Physical Therapy but No Electrical Stimulation in Patients with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Northwell Health
Summary
The purpose of study is to evaluate the efficacy of the electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) device in patients with patellofemoral pain known as anterior knee pain. Usual treatment for it is physical therapy (PT). We want to evaluate and see if adding the electrical muscle stimulation will fasten the recovery and improved outcome in patellofemoral pain syndrome. Half of participants will receive EMS and PT while other half will receive PT only.
Description
The patellofemoral pain syndrome also known as anterior knee pain is a common entity in young athletic population. In patellofemoral knee syndrome, one of the theory is that the vastus medialis obliquus muscle is weak. To strengthen the muscle, physical therapy exercises are commonly used. This study evaluates addition of the electrical muscle stimulation device.The electrical muscle stimulation device "Flex MT Plus" (Electrostim Medical Services Inc. Tampa, FL) is a FDA approved device and has been used in knee for other conditions like treating for weakness associated with knee injuries or a…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Bilateral/unilateral anterior knee pain for more than 3 moths * Age of patient 18 to 40 years * At least 3 of the 4 following criteria present: pain associated with prolonged sitting with knees bend, pain with going downstairs, kneeling and squatting or sports activities * No h/o injury * No h/o surgery to the knee Exclusion Criteria: * H/o patellar dislocation or subluxation * Associated bursitis, tendinitis in periarticular area * Ligamentous problems * Intra-articular pathology * Pregnancy (patient reported pregnancy, in case of doubt patient will be referred to the…
Interventions
- DeviceEMS
The EMS device Flex MT Plus (Electrostim Medical Services Inc. Tampa, FL) is a neuromuscular stimulator. It is approved by the FDA. The Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) applied to vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) muscle for 20 minutes, 3 times daily and it would be 5 times a week for 12 weeks at 40 Hz. The pulse duration will be 0.26ms, at 5 seconds on and 10 seconds off.
- OtherPhysical therapy
Standard physical therapy exercises
Location
- New York Bone and Joint SpecialistsNew York, New York