Rehabilitation-related variability in the x-ray indicators of intrinsic patellofemoral pathology

Introduction Rehabilitation is an accepted method for the initial treatment of pathologies intrinsic to the patellofemoral joint, leading in many cases to an improvement of clinical manifestations. Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine whether rehabilitating therapy causes any variation in the radiological indices that define a painful patellar syndrome or patellofemoral instability. Materials and methods This is a prospective study of 50 subjects, divided up into 2 groups. The first group comprised 25 individuals afflicted with a painful patellar syndrome without signs of instability; the second group comprised another 25 individuals with patellofemoral instability. All the subjects were subjected to standardized x-ray study both before and after undergoing a rehabilitation protocol. Results and conclusions Rehabilitation led to significant changes in the patellofemoral index of subjects with a painful patellar syndrome and in both this index and the patellofemoral congruence angle in patients with patellofemoral instability.