Selective functional movement assessment(SFMA)-based therapeutic corrective exercises reduces knee joint pain in a patient with patellofemoral pain syndrome after pregnancy (case study)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of selective functional movement assessment (SFMA)-based therapeutic corrective exercise on knee joint pain in a patient with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) after pregnancy. PFPS is one of the most common causes of knee pain. The present study was conducted in a 35-year-old woman with chronic PFPS following pregnancy. She was seen every other day, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Physical therapy was performed for tight muscles and fascia in the front, rear, left, and right following mat relaxation, with use of a form roller and corrective exercises suitable for SFMA after simple manual therapy. Corrective exercises were performed with pattern assist, unload, pattern assist with load, and load, based on a 4 × 4 matrix and the patient's status and exercise capacity. For each corrective exercise, photographic materials were also provided so that the patient could carry out the corrective exercises at home. The treatment time per session was 50 minutes. Multi-Segmental Flexion showed improvement from Dysfunctional Non-painful (DN) to Functional Non-painful (FN), Multi-Segmental Extension showed improvement from DP to FN, Single Leg Stance (both right and left) showed improvement from DN to FN, and Overhead Deep Squat showed improvement from DP to FN. The Straight Leg Raising (SLR) test showed an increase on the right from 82° to 90° and from 63° to 81° on the left. The Kujala questionnaire score increased from 63 to 94. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score decreased from 8 to 3. SFMA-based therapeutic corrective exercise was effective for chronic PFPS after pregnancy in this patient