Clinical and functional outcomes of aquatic plyometrics in adolescent patellofemoral pain syndrome: a dual-arm randomized controlled trial.
Mazyad A Alotaibi, Ragab K Elnaggar, Ahmed S Alhowimel et al.
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In 30 seconds
This dual-arm randomized controlled trial compared aquatic plyometric exercises with conventional exercises in 56 adolescents aged 10–18 years with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Both groups completed 45-minute sessions twice weekly for 12 weeks. Compared with conventional exercise, aquatic plyometrics produced greater improvements in pain, quadriceps and hamstring peak torque, functional disability, and perceived health-related quality of life. The largest reported pain result was a between-group effect with p = 0.004 and η2p = 0.14; the abstract does not provide absolute changes or confidence intervals.
Key findings
- Aquatic plyometrics yielded greater pain relief than conventional exercise (p = 0.004, η2p = 0.14).
- Quadriceps and hamstring peak torque improved more with aquatic plyometrics at both tested speeds (120°/s and 180°/s; p = 0.006–0.023).
- Functional disability decreased more with aquatic plyometrics (p = 0.03, η2p = 0.08).
- Perceived health-related quality of life improved more with aquatic plyometrics (p = 0.023, η2p = 0.09).
Why it matters
Adolescent patellofemoral pain rehabilitation aims to improve symptoms and function while avoiding excessive joint loading. This trial suggests that an aquatic plyometric programme may improve several patient-relevant outcomes more than conventional exercises over the study period, alongside gains in knee muscle torque. The findings add comparative evidence for exercise-based rehabilitation in this age group.
What to keep in mind
The abstract reports outcomes only before and after the 12-week programme; longer-term effects are not described. It provides p-values and effect sizes but no absolute changes or confidence intervals.