Abstract

Introduction: patellofemoral pain syndrome is the most common lesion of the lower extremity overuse. There is no agreement on the most appropriate treatment, but there is general consensus that the approach of preferred treatment is non-surgical. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze the efficiency of the therapeutic exercise applied to patients with the above mentioned syndrome. Material and method: a systematic search was performed in biomedical databases PUBMED, PEDro, SCOPUS, WOS, BVS and SCIENCE DIRECT, using the key words patellofemoral pain syndrome, exercise therapy, patients and pain. Studies had to meet the following inclusion criteria: exercises applied to subjects with patellofemoral pain syndrome, active subjects, randomized clinical trials, published in the last 10 years and that presented a high quality in the PEDro scale (≥ 5). Studies on which subjects were presenting surgical intervention, systemic disease, pregnancy, sample lower than 20 subjects or that were combining the exercise with another physiotherapy modality were excluded. A total of 12 studies were obtained. Results: the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome using a therapeutic exercise program,based mainly on strengthening and stretching of the lower limb, was considered effective mainly for the decrease of the pain and increase of the contuviefunctional capacity. Conclusion: this systematic review finds moderate evidence in the improvement of the analyzed variables, of which the physical therapy based on programs of exercise, on major measure of strengthening and stretchings of lower limb produces positive effects in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome.