Open versus closed kinetic chain exercises for patellofemoral pain - A prospective, randomized study

The goal of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of open ver sus closed kinetic chain exercises in the nonoperative management of patell ofemoral pain. Sixty patients were randomized into a 5-week program that co nsisted of only closed kinetic chain exercises or only open kinetic chain e xercises. Muscle characteristics, subjective symptoms, and functional perfo rmance were evaluated in this study at the time of the initial physical exa mination, at the end of the treatment period, and 3 months later. Both grou ps experienced a statistically significant decrease in pain and an increase in functional performance. This study shows that both open and closed kine tic chain exercise programs lead to an improved subjective and clinical out come in patients with anterior knee pain. The few significantly better func tional results for some of the tested parameters in the closed kinetic chai n group suggest that this type of treatment is a little more effective than the open kinetic chain program in the treatment of these patients.