Identifying female responders to proximal control exercises in patellofemoral pain syndrome: A clinical prediction rule.

Objectives: Given the high prevalence of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) and the effectiveness of proximal control exercises, as well as the lack of studies addressing the predictors of this effect, we conducted this study to examine the effects of age, body mass index, symptom duration, and dynamic valgus of the knee on the pain and function responses to proximal control exercises in women with PFPS.

Methods: Fifty women with PFPS with a mean age of 25 years, recruited from Ain Shams University, performed proximal control exercises twice weekly for 4 weeks. Knee pain was assessed with the visual analogue scale; knee function was assessed with the Kujala questionnaire; and dynamic knee valgus (DKV) was assessed through Kinovea Computer programmer video analysis.