Menu

HomeHow it worksContact UsContact Us

Dynamic proprioceptive training improves functional recovery in sprinters with patellofemoral pain: A randomized trial.

B D, Subramanian SS, Thirumalai J, Bakhsh HR, Alfawaz SS, Jastania R et al. · PloS one · 2026

This randomized trial put 60 recreational sprinters with knee (patellofemoral) pain into either a dynamic proprioceptive/balance-based training program or a conventional strengthening program, both supervised three times a week for 12 weeks, and tracked pain, dynamic balance, hop distance, and limb symmetry. The authors concluded that the proprioceptive training group achieved greater overall functional recovery than the strengthening group, though the abstract's results section is cut off and gives no specific numbers.
Takeaway: Add balance and perturbation-based drills alongside strengthening when rehabbing patellofemoral knee pain.
Abstract (source)

Background: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common musculoskeletal condition among physically active individuals, particularly sprinters, and is frequently associated with pain, impaired balance, and reduced functional performance. This study compared the effects of dynamic proprioceptive training and conventional strengthening on multidomain functional recovery in recreational sprinters with PFPS.

Methods: A two-arm, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted among 60 recreational sprinters with unilateral PFPS. Participants were randomly allocated to either a Dynamic Proprioceptive Training (DPT) group or a Strengthening Program (SP) group (n = 30 each). Both groups received supervised rehabilitation three times weekly for 12 weeks. Primary outcomes included pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale [NPRS]), dynamic balance (Y-Balance Test [YBT]), and single-hop distance. Secondary outcomes included limb symmetry index (LSI), recovery rates, and a composite Recovery Efficiency Index (REI). Assessments were performed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Repeated-measures ANOVA and regression-based analyses were performed. This trial was registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI/2025/07/090253).

Results: Both groups improved significantly over time (p

Conclusion: Dynamic proprioceptive training produced greater multidomain functional recovery than conventional strengthening in recreational sprinters with PFPS. Incorporating sensorimotor and perturbation-based exercises into rehabilitation programmes may improve functional recovery, limb symmetry, and sport-specific performance in athletic populations.

Randomized controlled trialRecovery & Sleep
Read the original →

Related in Recovery & Sleep

Short-term creatine supplementation enhances strength, reduces fatigue, and accelerates recovery in resistance-trained athletes: a double-blind, randomized, crossover trialSleep and Athletic Performance: A Multidimensional Review of Physiological and Molecular MechanismsEffects of sleep deprivation on sports performance and perceived exertion in athletes and non-athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysisInter-Set Blood-Flow Restriction Increases Peripheral Physiological Stress While Preserving Repeated-Sprint Mechanical Output in Trained Athletes.Impact of Combined Core Strength, Balance and Visual Skill Training on Selected Skill-Related Physical Fitness and Performance Variables of School-Level Badminton Players in Tirupathur District: A Quasi-Experimental StudyA Biopsychosocial Model of Athlete Performance: Integrating Psychological Skills, Coaching Competence, Nutritional Readiness and Well-Being Among Nigerian University Athletes