Effects of Taping on Pain and Function in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Study Design: A randomized controlled trial. Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of daily patella taping and exercise on pain and function in individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Background: Patella taping and muscle-strengthening programs are commonly used to treat patellofemoral pain syndrome. There is, however, little evidence for the effectiveness of these approaches. Methods and Measures: Twenty-four men and 6 women aged 17 to 25 years (mean ± SD, 18.7 ± 1.2 years) participated in the study. Subjects were randomly and exclusively assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: patella taping combined with a standardized exercise program, placebo patella taping and exercise program, or exercise program alone (n = 10 in each group). Taping was applied and exercises performed on a daily basis for 4 weeks. Outcome measures were visual analog scales for pain and the functional index questionnaire, recorded at weekly intervals by a therapist who was blinded to group allocation. Results: Separate mixed-model ANOVAs, with repeated measures on time, indicated statistically significant improvements in pain and function over time for all groups (P Ͻ.01) and also significant differences between groups for all measures (P Ͻ.01). Separate independent samples t tests showed that the group receiving taping and exercises had better pain and function scores following treatment than the placebo taping-and-exercise group and the exercise-alone group. There were no significant differences between the placebo taping-and-exercise group and exercise-alone group at any time point. Conclusions: These findings indicate that over a period of 4 weeks a combination of daily patella taping and exercises was successful in improving pain and function in individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome. The combination of patella taping and exercise was superior to the use of exercise alone.

Analysis of Hip Strength in Females Seeking Physical Therapy Treatment for Unilateral Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

“…The identification of these impairments would seem to support the incorporation of hip strengthening exercises into the rehabilitation of patients with unilateral PFPS. Previously mentioned clinical trials 4,29 and case reports 17 that included hip strengthening exercises in their multimodal rehabilitation programs have been successful in reducing the pain and disability associated with PFPS. Further research is warranted to determine whether hip strengthening and/or endurance exercises are a necessary component of a multimodal rehabilitation program for patients with PFPS and to identify which subgroup of patients with PFPS is most likely to respond to these types of therapeutic activities.…”

“…Specific activities targeting performance of the lateral hip musculature have been incorporated into physical therapy intervention programs for improving pain, disability, and function in patients with PFPS. 4,17,29 In spite of the fact that intervention programs for the management of patients with PFPS include exercises aimed at improving the performance of the lateral hip musculature, we are aware of only 2 research reports that have investigated whether differences in hip strength exist between patients with PFPS and a control group. 12,20 Ireland et al 12 found that 15 female subjects with PFPS demonstrated 26% less hip abduction strength and 36% less hip external rotation strength when compared to 15 age-matched control subjects.…”

Efficacy of Nonsurgical Interventions for Anterior Knee Pain

“…Whittingham et al [52] showed significant large to very large effects favouring four weeks of patella taping and exercise over exercise alone (2.47, 1.25 to 3.70), and over placebo tape with exercise (1.35, 0.36 to 2.35). In contrast, longer-term data from Clark et al [43] showed no significant between-group effects when patella taping and education was compared to education alone, and when patella taping was added to exercise and education (12 and 52 weeks).…”

Development of a Clinical Prediction Rule for Classifying Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Who Respond to Patellar Taping

“…9 Since McConnell's landmark paper, 43 several clinical trials demonstrated that patellar taping can be an effective part of an intervention plan for reducing pain and improving function in patients with PFPS, but effect sizes vary. 2,8,48,66,67 While evidence suggests that taping can be effective, no published study has identified specific clinical examination variables that are predictive of which patients with the condition will respond successfully to patellar taping. Identification of these variables would provide clinicians with a useful clinical decision-making tool and may help increase the efficacy of the technique.…”

“…One technique that has gained acceptance as an effective component of treatment for anterior knee pain is patellar taping. 8,43,67 Australian physical therapist Jenny McConnell developed patellar taping and reported a 96% success rate using taping as a component of a treatment regimen for PFPS. 43 The approach is based largely on the premise that patellar malalignment and a poorly tracking patella can lead to patellofemoral pain.…”