COMPARISON OF THE SUPERIORITY OF ISOMETRIC AND ISOTONIC STRENGTHENING EXERCISES FOR QUADR?CEPS WITH RESPECT TO PAIN, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY OF PATIENTS WITH CHONDROMALACIA PATELLAE


ÖZDURAN E., Guzelant A. Y.

JOURNAL OF BASIC AND CLINICAL HEALTH SCIENCES, no.1, pp.111-121, 2023 (ESCI) identifier

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the superiority of different exercise modalities, including isotonic and isometric strengthening for quadriceps, over each other and their effect on pain, quality of life and functional capacity in patients diagnosed with chondromalacia patellae (CMP). Material and Methods: This study was designed as a prospective study in 30 patients (15 patients in isometric, 15 patients in isotonic group) and 15 healthy volunteers aged 20-50 years who were diagnosed with CMP based on physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging and had pain complaints. Pain level was evaluated with Visual Analogue Scala (VAS), functional capacity with Lysholm scale, and quality of life with Short Form-36(SF-36). Q-angle, and thigh circumference were evaluated before and after exercise in all patients. Results: In patients with CMP, there were significant differences in Q-angle, pain, functional capacity, and some subcomponents of the SF-36 quality of life after performing isometric or isotonic exercises compared with the control group (p<0,05). There were no significant differences in thigh circumference and other parameters of certain SF-36 quality of life components (p>0,05). In the evaluation of the isotonic and isometric exercise groups, there were no significant difference in the assessment of Q-angle, thigh circumference, pain, functional capacity, and quality of life of patients with CMP (p>0,05). Conclusion: Isometric and isotonic quadriceps strengthening exercises are not superior to each other in terms of pain, functional capacity, and quality of life in CMP treatment.