Effectiveness of the kinesiotaping in the patellofemoral pain syndrome

This study aims to evaluate the effect of kinesiotaping implementation on pain and functional status in patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).

Between January 2014 and July 2014, this prospective, single-center, randomized-controlled study included a total of 75 knees from 43 patients (20 males, 23 females; mean age 33.8±7.9 years; range, 20 to 50 years). All patients were divided into three treatment groups: Group 1 (25 knees) were treated with kinesiotaping and exercise, Group 2 (25 knees) were treated with sham taping + and exercise, and Group 3 (25 knees) were treated with exercise alone. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain severity. The Kujala Patellofemoral Scale (KPS) was used to determine the effect of the knee pain on the patients' daily living activities. All three groups were given the same exercise program during six weeks. Kinesiotaping was applied twice a week, 12 times in total during the treatment period of six weeks. The VAS and KPS assessments for all patients were made at baseline, then at the end of the treatment (week 6) and at week 12 the end of the 12th week.

There were no statistically significant differences between the three groups in terms of age, sex, height, weight, and Body Mass Index (p>0.05, for all). A statistically significant improvement was observed in all groups in terms of the mean VAS and KPS scores before the treatment, at week 6, and at week 12 (p<0.001, for all). There was no statistically significant change in the mean changes of the VAS and KPS among the groups at week 6 and 12.

Our study results suggest that the addition of the kinesiotaping application to the exercise treatment for PFPS seems to be ineffective on pain control and improved daily life activities.