The Effect Of Adding Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation To Exercise Therapy On Patellofemoral Pain .
The effect of adding neuromuscular electrical stimulation to exercise therapy on patellofemoral pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
PLoS One . 2025 Jun 23;20(6):e0326785.Nine randomized controlled trials including 337 patients with patellofemoral pain were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis comparing exercise therapy with versus without neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). Pooled outcomes of interest included pain intensity, quadriceps muscle strength, knee function, and VMO/VL muscle activation ratio. The meta-analysis showed that adding NMES significantly reduced pain, improved knee function, and increased quadriceps strength, but had no significant effect on the VMO/VL ratio. The findings suggest that NMES may offer additional clinical benefits when combined with exercise, especially when the treatment period exceeds four weeks.
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