LEG PRESS EXERCISE IN PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN- A ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP STUDY

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the short- and long-term effect of leg-press exercises in dealing with patellofemoral pain. Sixty subjects with patellofemoral pain participated. They were randomly assigned into leg-press exercise or control (no exercise) group. Training consisted of three weekly sessions for eight weeks. Measurements of pain (VAS), Lysholm scale score, morphology of vastus medialis obliquus (including cross-sectional area and volume by ultrasonography) were obtained before and after 8-wk treatment. Long-term follow-ups were carried out (on leg-press group only) at 6-month and 12-month later. Significant improvements in pain, functional score, and muscle hypertrophy were observed after leg-press intervention, but not in the control group. The good subjective and functional outcomes achieved immediately after exercise intervention were maintained at long-term follow-up. Since the short- and long-term prognoses of subjects who underwent leg-press exercise were relatively good, simple and convenient leg-press exercise was recommended in rehabilitation of patellofemoral pain.