Background and Aim: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common disorder of the knee.­ the conservative treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome is to correct shortness of soft tissue. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of PNF stretching exercise on PFPS.

Materials and Methods: Twenty female volunteers with PFPS were randomly assigned to PNF and control groups. The experimental group accomplished their own specific treatment protocols for 8 weeks, whereas the control group did not follow the treatment plan. Pain and functional disability were assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Kujala questionnaire respectively, before and after exercise. Using SPSS 20 software, data were analyzed by t-test. P<0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The experimental group showed a significant reduction in the pain (P< 0.05) and also significant improvement in the functional disability (P< 0.05) compared to the control group.

Conclusion: We concluded that PNF stretching may have positive effects on PFPS.

Keywords: Functional disability, Patellofemoral pain syndrome, PNF stretching.

Received: Jun 20, 2016      Accepted: Dec 21, 2016

Background and Aim: Headache is often associated with depression. However, depressive symptoms are more severe in some patients. The aim of the present study was to compare different types of chronic headache in regard to severity, frequency, depression, disability and physical and psychological impairment. We also examined the predictive and mediating factors of depression in the patients with chronic headache.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 203 patients with different types of chronic headache. For assessment of depression and pain intensity we used Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) respectively. For evaluation of disability we used physical and psychological impairment, and Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS).

Results: Patients with different types of chronic headache revealed no significant differences regarding pain intensity, disability, and subjective physical and psychological impairment. Migraine patients showed the least pain frequency compared to the patients with other types of headache. Patients with migraine had lower severity of depressive symptoms compared to the patients suffering from cluster or mixed chronic headache. 41% of the changes in the scores, based on linear model of depression were predictable by pain diagnosis and disability rate. The results of multiple mediation showed the mediating role of the severity of disability in the relationship between pain intensity and depression.

Conclusion: The patient's pain intensity could result in depression through causing disability in doing personal and social activities.

Keywords: Chronic headache, Depression, Disability, Pain intensity.

Received: Jun 14, 2016      Accepted: Jan 31, 2017