Study Design Randomized controlled trial. Objectives To examine the effectiveness of isolated hip abductor and external rotator strengthening on pain, health status, and hip strength in females with patellofemoral pain (PFP). Background Altered hip kinematics resulting from hip muscle weakness has been proposed as a contributing factor in the development of PFP. To date, no study has examined clinical outcomes associated with isolated hip muscle strengthening in those with PFP. Methods Twenty-eight females with PFP were sequentially assigned to an exercise (n = 14) or a no-exercise control group (n = 14). The exercise group completed bilateral hip abductor and external rotator strengthening 3 times per week for 8 weeks. Pain (visual analog scale), health status (WOMAC), and hip strength (handheld dynamometer) were assessed at baseline and postintervention. Pain and health status were also evaluated at 6 months postintervention in the exercise group. Two-factor mixed-model analyses of variance were used to determine the effects of the intervention on each outcome variable. Results Significant group-by-time interactions were observed for each variable of interest. Post hoc testing revealed that pain, health status, and bilateral hip strength improved in the exercise group following the 8-week intervention but did not change in the control group. Improvements in pain and health status were sustained at 6-month follow-up in the exercise group. Conclusion A program of isolated hip abductor and external rotator strengthening was effective in improving pain and health status in females with PFP compared to a no-exercise control group. The incorporation of hip-strengthening exercises should be considered when designing a rehabilitation program for females with PFP. Level of Evidence Therapy, level 2b. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(1):22–29, Epub 25 October 2011. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.3704

RESULTS: There were no significant difference between groups or between lower extremity dominance for concentric knee extension and flexion peak torque, total work and work fatigue index. However, peak torque agonist/antagonist ratio was lower (p = 0.032) in AS than SS group for both dominant (AS = 46.5±4.7%; SS = 52.2 ± 5.8%) and non-dominant (AS = 47.8 ± 3.9%; SS = 53.5 ± 6.0%) lower extremities. CONCLUSION:Peak torque agonist/antagonist ratio was greater in SS than AS short distance elite swimmers during knee extension-flexion isokinetic test. These results suggest the need for designing training programs to improve strength balance between hamstrings and quadriceps muscles of front crawl and backstroke short distance elite swimmers PURPOSE: Compare the VO2 response during walking on land vs walking in water at selected water depths in normal and over weight female subjects. METHODS:Eighteen subjects aged 45±13 yrs, body mass of 80±18 kg and body mass index (BMI) of 29.0±6.2 kg/m 2 were divided into two groups (n = 9) based on BMI <26 (LOBMI, body mass = 65.4±6.3 kg, BMI = 23.5±1.5) and BMI >30 (HIBMI, body mass = 95.84±14.8 kg, BMI = 34.6±3.2 kg/m 2 ). Each group walked on a land treadmill (land) in 24° C air and on three separate days in a water treadmill (ATM, Hydroworx tm ) at 30° C. Sessions consisted of six 5-min walking bouts of 2. 41, 3.22, 4.02, 4.83, 5.63 and 6.44 Km per hour. Water depth was at the xiphoid (xip), 10 cm below (-10 cm), and 10 cm above xip (+10 cm). Heart rate (HR) and relative VO2 (ml/kg/min) were recorded during the final three min and averaged. RESULTS:Although VO2 increased (P<0.05) with speed on land LOBMI (12.55±2.04 ml/kg/min) was similar to HIBMI (11.21±2.03). In water, regardless of depth LOBMI VO2 was greater (p<0.05) than HIBMI (+10cm: 13.16 vs 9.94; xip:15.46 vs 12.51; -10cm: 17.44 vs 13.77 ml/kg/min) across all speeds. CONCLUSIONS:These results suggest that BMI influences energy expenditure in water. The potential influence of greater buoyancy in overweight subjects suggest an index of adiposity (ie., body fat%) may prove to be an effective predictor of energy expenditure during walking in shallow water.