Exercise Prescription Principles

The majority of previous studies treating patients with patellofemoral pain focused their exercise protocol on neuromuscular or strength-endurance prescription. Considering patients with patellofemoral pain present deficits in strength and muscle power, therapists should assess each patient for specific muscle function deficits, and prescribe a specific progressive resistance training program accordingly. Where necessary, design of an appropriate programme should aim to use accepted exercise prescription principles.

In this section, you will find information about definitions of strength, power and endurance, and guidance on how to prescribe exercises approaching different aspects of muscle function.

Designing an efficient exercise program health professionals have to manage different variables, so, it is of utmost importance know them. See the video below for your guidance.

Training Variables to designing a program:

What variables are also important to consider while design an exercise program?


Need to consider both the positive and negative impact that different forms of types or training may have upon the different systems.

Eg. Maximal strength training has a strong positive impact upon the musculoskeletal and nervous system but only minimal positive effect upon the cardio vascular system.

Resistance training is a form of physical activity that is designed to improve muscular fitness by exercising a muscle or a muscle group against external resistance.

Resistance training is any exercise that causes the muscles to contract against an external resistance with the expectation of increases in strength, power and/or endurance. The external resistance can be dumbbells, exercise tubing, your own body weight or any other object that causes the muscles to contract. However, the key is to tailor your prescription the individuals needs of the patient in front of you based on assessment.

You will find a simple guidance in the infographic on the right and a more complete guidance in the booklet below.



Listen to Dr Christian Barton (La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre) discussing the importance of improve the ability to design and prescribe a good exercise program to patients with patellofemoral pain.