Running Retraining Technique and Neuromuscular Exercises in Runners with Patellofemoral Pain: A Scoping Review.

This was a scoping review, not a test of whether either treatment works, so it cannot tell you which programme is best. Only 15 studies met the eligibility criteria, and the protocols were very heterogeneous. The definition of neuromuscular exercise was broad and influenced which studies were included. Some studies lacked precise reporting, requiring subjective interpretation. The search was limited to English and French, and some relevant studies may have been missed. People who were not runners, children, and runners with other knee problems or prior knee surgery were excluded, so this does not address those groups. Conference abstracts and protocol studies without results were excluded. Many studies were by the same researchers or teams, which may emphasize certain approaches.

Do not read this as evidence that running retraining or neuromuscular exercise reduces patellofemoral pain. The review described how these programmes were done and found very heterogeneous protocols, not a tested effect.