Anterior knee pain frequently occurs in an active population with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) being a common cause of anterior knee pain. Knee pain can substantially impact daily activity and function limiting participation in recreational activities. Kamel et al1 recently sought to determine whether addition of short foot exercise (SFE) to a traditional hip and knee strengthening program had additional benefits.
Twenty-eight participants ages 18-35 were randomly assigned to two groups. The study group received SFE in addition to hip and knee exercise while the control group performed just hip and knee exercise. The group performing SFE demonstrated great improvement in pain rating, reported function, and balance compared to the control group indicating the addition of SFE to a traditional hip and knee exercise program provided additional benefits for people with PFPS.
If you are dealing with knee pain, schedule an appointment with one of the Physical Therapists at RISE for an accurate diagnosis and development of a customized program to achieve your goals.