Author/Editor     Vengust, Rok; Strojnik, Vojko; Pavlovčič, Vinko; Antolič, Vane; Zupanc, Oskar
Title     The effect of electrostimulation and high load exercises in patients with patellofemoral joint dysfunction. A preliminary report
Type     članek
Source     Pflugers Arch
Vol. and No.     Letnik 442, št. 6 Suppl 1
Publication year     2001
Volume     str. R153-4
Language     eng
Abstract     Traditional conservative treatment for patellar disorders is successful in about 80 percents of cases. We introduced two new conservative treatment protocols for patellar pathology in order to further improve the success rate. The first protocol consisted of high load/low repetition quadriceps femoris training (10 patients) while the second enclosed selective electrostimulation of vastus medialis muscle (7 patients). Results were evaluated clinically and neurophysiologically. High load/low repetition training resulted in significant increase of maximal voluntary contraction of quadriceps muscle (P < 0.001). Significant gain of Activity (P = 0.017) and Kujala scores (P = 0.07) was observed in group with high load/low repetition quadriceps training compared to patients with electrostimulation.There was no significant change in neurophysiological or clinical status between the beginning and the end of treatment with electrostimulation. Our results indicate that high load/low repetition quadriceps femoris training poses an important alternative to traditional conservative treatment protocol for patellar disorders.
Descriptors     MUSCLE CONTRACTION
ELECTRIC STIMULATION
PATELLA
EXERCISE THERAPY
ELECTROMYOGRAPHY
KNEE JOINT