Effectiveness of Core Muscle Strengthening using Swiss Ball vs Traditional Core muscle Strengthening Exercises on Functional Impairments in Amateur Marathon Runners with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Background: Devashee S Mistry discovered that the prevalence of anterior knee pain in marathon runners is 68% in the age group of 15-30 years.(11) There are many literatures that shows correlation between core muscle instability and pain associated with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). Although, there are many studies done to study the effectiveness of core muscle strengthening program on pain and functional impairment in general population with PFPS, there are only few literatures which evaluates its effectiveness on marathon runners. Study purpose/ Research Question: The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of core muscle strengthening using Swiss ball versus traditional core muscle exercises on mat for managing the functional impairments in the amateur marathon runners with PFPS. Material and methodology: Amateur marathon runners with patellofemoral pain syndrome (n = 32) having anterior knee pain were included in this study. A comparative study was done where two group were made. Group A (n= 16) received core strengthening exercises using swiss ball and group B (n = 16) received traditional core strengthening exercises using mat. Both groups received conventional Physiotherapy intervention which included hot moist pack applied on anterior aspect of knee (10 minutes), strengthening for lower limb muscles and stretching for lower limb muscles, 10 seconds hold for each muscle for 3 repetitions. Treatment was given for 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. Pain and other functional impairment such as squatting, stair climbing, walking and running were assessed using VAS and Patellofemoral Pain Severity Scale. Results: Group A showed significant decrease in pain and functional impairments as compared to group B. Mean pre VAS of group A was 6.94 which was significantly higher than mean post VAS 1.60 (p< 0.001). Mean pre VAS of group B was 6.88 which was significantly higher than mean post VAS 2.71 (p<0.001). Mean pre Patellofemoral pain Severity Scale of group A was 72.56 which is significant higher than post Patellofemoral Pain Severity Scale 15.87 (p<0.001). Mean pre Patellofemoral Pain Severity Scale of group B was 74.31 which is significantly higher than post mean Patellofemoral Pain Severity Scale 33.12 (p< 0.001) Conclusion: Core muscle strengthening using swiss ball is more effective than traditional core muscle strengthening using mat in amateur marathon runners for reducing pain and functional impairments having PFPS KEY WORD: Anterior knee pain, Marathon runners, Patellofemoral, Runner’s knee.