Patellofemoral Ağrısı Olan Hastalarda Ayak Egzersizlerinin Ağrı, Alt Ekstremite Biyomekanisi ve Fonksiyonelliği Üzerine Etkileri

Abstract

KISACIK, P. The Effects of Foot Exercises on Pain, Lower Extremity Biomechanics, and Functionality in Patients with Patellofemoral Pain. Hacettepe University Instutute of Health Science Doctor of Philosophy Thesis in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Program, Ankara, 2017. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of short foot exercise (SFE) on pain, lower extremity biomechanics and functioning in patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP). Twenty-two PFP patients aged between 25 to 60 years were included in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups. The first group (SEEP) was followed under the exercise program including knee and hip exercises, and the second group (AKEP) was followed under SFE in addition to the exercise program including knee and hip exercises 2 days per week for 6 weeks. At the beginning and the end of the study, for pain at sitting, squatting, climbing stairs Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); for other symptoms Kujala Patellofemoral Symptom Scale (KPSS); for lower extremity biomechanics measurement of Q angle, Navicular Drop Test (NDT), Calcaneo-tibial angle (CTA) and Foot Posture Index (FPI); for functionality test of muscle strength with hand dynamometer, Timed Up&Go test (TUG), Y balance test (YBT), Foot Function Index (FFI), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) were performed. As a result of this study, it was found that all parameters were improved in both groups, whereas the improvements in the pain intensity of sitting and stair activities, values of NDT and KTA, hip extensor and abductor muscle strength were statistically significant in AKEP group compared to SEEF group (p<0.05). In conclusion, it was shown that SFE has a positive effect on pain, lower extremity biomechanics and functionality 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.