Supervised exercise therapy in women's fitness wear is more effective at reducing pain and improving function than usual care for women patients with severe knee pain, according to a study published on bmj.com.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a condition in which pain occurs at the front of the knee during or after exercise and is a common reason to visit the doctor.

Women are more likely to be affected than men, and symptoms usually start during adolescence when participation in sporting activities is high.

General advice is to rest during periods of pain and to avoid pain-provoking activities, but the recent study found that those in a group who took part in supervised exercise therapy reported significantly less pain and better function than those who did not.

At 12 months, they continued to show better outcomes than the control group with regard to pain at rest and pain on activity, but not function.

This study provides evidence that supervised exercise therapy for patellofemoral pain syndrome in general practice is more effective than usual care for pain at rest, pain on activity, and function at three and 12 months, say the authors.

Website familydoctor.org recommends that people talk to their doctors about footwear as proper walking or running shoes can help knee pain.

It said that even a simple arch support insert from a shoe store can be helpful. This insert is less expensive than a custom-made support or brace. ADNFCR-2569-ID-19420919-ADNFCR

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