The effects of deep leg squats on patellofemoral pain syndrome - a single subject design study

• Author / Creator

  Costa, Larissa A

• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is a common knee disorder. Its etiology is not clear and appears to be multifactorial. There are several options of treatment; however none uses total knee flexion since it is thought to increase symptoms. This study was an exploratory multiple baseline-Single Subject Design that used an innovative protocol of deep squats on 11 subjects with PFPS. The objectives were to evaluate: 1) the protocol as treatment for PFPS and its feasibility and 2) how pain and function changed over time. Pain and function changed over the first half of the protocol. All subjects were compliers (20 or more days of squats), but the amount of performance varied. Eight subjects (72.7%) had a clinically relevant pain reduction, 6 performed ≥ 80% however, 2 performed ≤ 32% of the protocol. Overall, deep squats appear to be a promising and feasible intervention for PSPS, however more studies are necessary.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Patellofemoral pain
  • squats
  • treatment
  • exercise
  • knee pain
  • physical therapy

• Graduation date

  Fall 2011

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Masters of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3KH1P

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.