Comparing the effect of exercise therapy with Mckenzie versus Common methods in treatment of patients with Anterior Knee Pain (AKP): A randomized controlled trial.

The aim of this study is to compare the effect of McKenzie method with common physiotherapy protocol in subjects with anterior knee pain.

This study is a randomized clinical trial. Twenty-two patients with anterior knee pain and all of inclusion criteria and without exclusion criteria that they refer to Daron hospital in Shiraz are selected and will be randomly assigned in experiment and control groups. Each participant is assigned a code.

The treatment program included modality and exercise therapy. Modalities, superficial heat and electrical stimuli will be fixed in both groups from the first to the tenth session. From the third session, each group will be received their exercise therapy program. The location of the study is the physiotherapy center of the Doran hospital in Shiraz.

Inclusion criteria: The age between 16 to 40 years old; having at least two months pain in front of knee; The pain rate at least 3 cm by virtue of linear Visual Analog Scale ; Positive response to at least 2 items of the Kujala questionnaire. Exclusion criteria: Dissatisfaction of patient in each step of the study; Having a history of real locking of the knee; Having a history of patellar dislocation; Joint inflammation; Active infection; The presence of any abnormalities in knee joint radiography; Ligament injuries; Malignancy; The actual length difference of the limbs; The previous history of physiotherapy for knee; Taking of any tranquilizer medication during the 48 hours before the evaluation; The presence of any abnormalities in the chest, upper and lower extremities;

The treatment program is included 10 sessions of the Hot pack and the TENS modalities that are fixed in both groups. From the third session, in the experiment group, McKenzie exercises will be given according to the directional preference that is different for each subject and is determined by Mackenzie method.These exercises will be repeated 10 times every 2 hours. Attain and maintain exercises for postural correction and recommends of avoiding contrary directional preference movements, also are in the test group program. In control group strengthening exercise of hip and knee muscles will be done with 50% of the one maximum number of repetitions (ORM) and 20 percent increasing on a daily basis (against gravity and without weights) ), as well as strengthening exercises of trunk with Swiss ball. These exercises will be repeated 2 times a day and 10 repetition in each time. Before and after the warm-up and the cool-down exercises are considered.

Main outcome measure variables are including: score of pain, functional status, strength of quadriceps and hamstring, length of quadriceps and hamstring, knee flexion and extension range of motion and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs score.

Vise research and technology, Iran university of medical science,

This randomized study into intervention and control groups was conducted by using Random allocation rule. A total of 22 individuals were assigned to individual randomization units with numbers 1 and 2, including 11 number 1 for the intervention group, and 11 number 2 for the control group. They were placed in a draw box.Allocation concealment was done by Sequentially numbered, sealed, opaque envelopes. Subsequently, the envelopes were removed without replacement.

Excessive conflict