Effects of taping on pain and function in patellofemoral pain syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

Palmer, Shea; Macmillan, Fiona; Whittingham, Martin

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

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2004
• Journal: Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy
• Print ISSN: 0190-6011
• Electronic ISSN: 1938-1344
• Publisher: Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 504-510
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2004.34.9.504
• Keywords: clinical trial, knee, patella
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1058040
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2004.34.9.504
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This paper demonstrated superior effects of patellofemoral taping and exercise when compared with placebo taping and exercise and exercise alone in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Effectiveness was based upon the superior effects observed for both pain and function. Findings demonstrate that patella taping has effects greater than placebo.