The Effects of Progressive Neuromuscular Exercise Program and Taping on Muscle Strength and Pain in Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Blind Study

Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) is characterized by pain localized in the peripatellar or retropatellar regions in young and physically active individuals . In patients with PFP, during single-leg squatting, an increase in the valgus of the knee joint due to hip abductor muscle weakness and in the internal rotation of the femur due to weakness of the hip external rotators and abductor muscles are observed. Theoretically it has been shown that faulty hip kinematics can increase lateral loading in the patellofemoral joint. Therefore, conducting exercises to strengthen the extensor, external rotator, and abductor muscles of the hip and lateral flexor muscles of the trunk are an important treatment approaches. Strengthening the quadriceps muscle is a widely used method of treating PFP. Previous studies suggest that hip and trunk exercises prescribed in combination with traditional quadriceps strengthening exercises are effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with PFP .

In recent years, kinesiotape is one of the widely used methods in the treatment of PFP. The correction of the abnormal patellar displacement, the reduction of the patellofemoral joint reaction forces, and the regulation of the activation of the vastus medialis muscle is provided with patellar taping. Patellar taping is recommended as part of evidence-based combined physiotherapy programs in the treatment of PFP . Increased pronation of the subtalar joint and the decrease / flattening of the medial arch height are associated with PFP. Prolonged pronation time is observed in subtalar and midtarsal joints during gait. To correct increased pronation, foot orthoses, low-dye taping and kinesio taping are applied . The effect of kinesiotaping on foot pronation, however, is unclear due to the lack of published studies.

To our knowledge, although patellar taping is applied in patients with PFP no studies have examined the effects of kinesiotaping supporting the medial arch and allowing forefoot and hind foot to move within the normal range. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of corrective kinesio taping applied on patellofemoral joint and foot in addition to a progressive neuromuscular exercise program in women with Patellofemoral Pain on knee pain and muscle strength.