EFFECT OF A CLOSED KINETIC CHAIN EXERCISE PROTOCOL ON PATELLOFEMORAL SYNDROME REHABILITATION

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The purpose of this study was to verify the efficacy of quadriceps femoris muscle strengthening exercises in a closed kinetic chain (CKC) in the treatment of patellofemoral syndrome (PFS). The following elements were evaluated: pain, knee functional injury level, Q angle and electromyographic activity of the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles during isometric contractions. The 10 PFS patients performed quadriceps femoris strengthening exercises using a leg-press with progressive increase in resistance during eight weeks, twice a week. The data collected were analyzed by the Wilcoxon test (α<0.05) and the results showed significant improvement in knee functional injury level (p<0.05), suggesting that the CKC proposed exercises may be prescribed for PFS patients, specially if accompanied by pain level control.