Lumbopelvic manipulation proves effective as adjuvant therapy for patellofemoral pain

Lumbopelvic manipulation (LPM) notably eased knee pain in patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) patients, particularly when used alongside other physical therapies, as per the outcomes of a recent  systematic review and meta-analysis. PFPS has been a leading cause of knee pain, and LPM might offer relief. A study aiming to evaluate how effective LPM is for reducing pain in PFPS patients was published in the journal “Life”.

In this study, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about LPM's effect on PFPS were searched. Researchers analyzed changes in pain scores from visual analog or numeric rating scales (VAS or NRS) in ten studies with 346 participants. The analysis showed significant pain attenuation in the LPM group when compared to the control group. Additionally, combining LPM with other physical therapies provided even greater pain relief and no adverse events were reported during the LPM treatment.

It was concluded that lumbopelvic manipulation is a safe and effective addition to treatment plans for PFPS, offering significant pain relief. It is advised that clinicians should consider integrating LPM with other therapies, like quadriceps strengthening, to enhance patient outcomes.