From Pain to Performance: Physiotherapy Approaches in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome : A Narrative Review

Ratna Narsingh Yadav; Shreevanya Sairam Kodam; Shashwat Darshan Joshi; Priyaranjan Chaudhary

doi:10.71097/IJSAT.v17.i3.11577

From Pain to Performance: Physiotherapy Approaches in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome : A Narrative Review

Author(s)	Ms. Ratna Narsingh Yadav, Ms. Shreevanya Sairam Kodam, Dr. Shashwat Darshan Joshi, Prof. Priyaranjan Chaudhary
Country	India
Abstract	Abstract Background: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain around or behind the patella, particularly during activities such as squatting, stair climbing, running, and prolonged sitting. Physiotherapy is widely used in its management, although different treatment approaches target different impairments associated with PFPS. Objective: To review the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions used in the management of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using literature identified through PubMed and Google Scholar. Boolean operators such as AND and OR were used with relevant keywords including “patellofemoral pain syndrome,” “physiotherapy,” and “rehabilitation.” Randomized controlled trials involving males and females of any age were considered. Studies involving patients with cardiovascular disease were excluded. Eight randomized controlled trials were included for narrative synthesis. Results: The reviewed studies demonstrated beneficial effects of physiotherapy interventions on pain, muscle strength, functional performance, movement control, and quality of life in individuals with PFPS. Targeted hip and knee strengthening, balance and perturbation training, and structured exercise programs showed consistent improvements in pain and functional outcomes. Adjunctive interventions, including femoral nerve neurodynamic techniques, lumbar spinal manipulation, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, blood-flow-restriction training, and digital rehabilitation, also demonstrated improvements in selected outcomes. However, the addition of manual therapy to exercise did not provide significant additional benefits compared with exercise alone. Conclusion: Physiotherapy appears to be an effective component of PFPS management, with exercise-based rehabilitation demonstrating consistent benefits across several outcomes. An individualized treatment program incorporating strengthening, neuromuscular control, and functional training, with adjunctive techniques selected according to patient-specific impairments, may be beneficial. Further high-quality studies with standardized protocols and longer follow-up are required to establish the long-term effectiveness of different physiotherapy interventions.
Keywords	Patellafemoral pain syndrome , physiotherapy , management , rcts , narrative
Field	Medical / Pharmacy
Published In	Volume 17, Issue 3, July-September 2026
Published On	2026-09-23
DOI	https://doi.org/10.71097/IJSAT.v17.i3.11577

View / Download PDF File

About IJSAT Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us	Message on WhatsApp	+91-9687-182-185	editor@ijsat.org

International Journal on Science and Technology

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

From Pain to Performance: Physiotherapy Approaches in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome : A Narrative Review

Share this