The effect of a supervised online group exercise program on symptoms associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome in women

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the musculoskeletal system pathologies frequently encountered especially in women. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to compare the efficacy of an online exercise program with a home exercise program including the same exercises, and a control group planned for females with PFPS. METHODS: The study included 60 females with PFPS aged 33.17 ± 6.84. Participants were randomly divided into 3 groups. One of the groups was given a 6-week home program consisting of evidence-based exercises. Exercises consisting of the same exercises were supervised online to another group. The third group did not receive any intervention. Pain, knee joint range of motion, muscle strength in flexion and extension and hip posterolateral muscle group, patellofemoral joint functionality, quality of life, recurrence of injury and fear of movement were measured at preintervention and postintervention. RESULTS: Participation in the online supervised exercise group was seen to result in a greater decrease in pain during activity and kinesiophobia, and a greater increase in the quality of life mental health sub-dimension compared to the home exercise group. CONCLUSION: Online supervised exercise groups could be an alternative telerehabilitation method for exercise programs established for women with PFPS.