Patellofemoral Pain, PFP

The primary goal of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) is to evaluate whether Kinesio Taping versus McConnell Taping, when integrated into a standardized hip-knee strengthening and neuromuscular control program, produces significant effects in individuals aged 18-50 with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). The main question it aims to answer is: Does Kinesio Taping compared with McConnell Taping when both combined with a standardized hip-knee exercise program, produce different effects on quadriceps neuromuscular activation (VMO-VL sEMG), pain, functional knee pain, and dynamic knee valgus over a 6 week period intervention? Participants will be divided into three groups for comparison: the control group will receive a structured hip-knee physical therapy exercise program without any taping intervention, Kinesio Taping group with a standardized exercise program, and a McConnell Taping group with a standardized exercise program.

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common overuse injury in runners. Increased patellofemoral joint stress (PFJS) is an important biomechanical factor associated with PFP. Gait retraining, especially cadence modification, may reduce PFJS and improve symptoms, but evidence from randomized controlled trials remains limited. This study investigated whether wearable device-assisted gait retraining was more effective than education alone in reducing pain, improving function, and altering running biomechanics in female runners with PFP.

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain around or behind the patella during activities such as stair ambulation, squatting, running, jumping, and prolonged sitting. Exercise therapy combined with patient education is considered first-line treatment, and supervised rehabilitation is commonly used to improve adherence and clinical outcomes. Telerehabilitation may increase accessibility and reduce time and travel burden, but high-quality evidence remains limited regarding whether telerehabilitation provides outcomes that are not inferior to conventional face-to-face supervised rehabilitation in individuals with PFP. This study is a randomized, assessor-blinded, non-inferiority trial designed to compare telerehabilitation with face-to-face supervised rehabilitation in individuals with patellofemoral pain. The trial will evaluate whether telerehabilitation is not inferior to face-to-face supervised rehabilitation in improving pain and knee-related function, while also examining psychological outcomes, self-satisfaction, and adherence.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS), or anterior knee pain, is one of the most common disorders affecting the lower extremities. Currently, there is no established "gold standard" treatment for PFPS. However, various interventions-including strengthening of the hip and knee muscles (e.g., hip abductors, external rotators, and knee extensors), taping, bracing, foot orthoses, manual therapy, acupuncture, blood flow restriction training, and conventional physical agents (e.g., ultrasound, cryotherapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, laser therapy, electromyographic biofeedback, etc.)-have been reported to provide meaningful clinical benefits. Strengthening of the hip and knee muscles alone has been shown to improve both pain and function in the short, medium, and long term. In recent high-quality studies, hip and knee muscle strengthening has been recognized as an effective "classical" treatment approach for PFPS. Regarding the mechanism of pain relief, previous research suggests that strengthening these muscles may alleviate pain by stabilizing patellar motion and/or reducing pressure on the patellofemoral joint. Similar to traditional resistance training, whole-body vibration (WBV) training is an alternative method for muscle strengthening. WBV platforms can generate vertical vibrations that stimulate tonic vibration reflexes through muscle spindles, thereby activating homonymous alpha motor neurons and inducing reflex muscle contractions. As a result, increased motor unit recruitment enhances the excitability of muscle spindles, leading to improved muscle strength. Additionally, WBV training can improve muscle balance, strength, and function. Therefore, combining WBV with hip and knee strengthening exercises may represent a more effective treatment strategy for PFPS. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the combination of WBV and hip-knee muscle strengthening is more effective in reducing pain and improving function than hip-knee strengthening alone.

Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) is a common knee condition causing pain around the kneecap during activities like running or squatting. Limited ankle flexibility ("dorsiflexion" - how far participants can lift their toes toward the shin) may worsen PFP by altering leg movements. This study investigates whether adding ankle flexibility exercises to standard knee-strengthening programs improves outcomes for young adults with PFP. Active adults aged 18-30 with PFP and limited ankle flexibility (measured with a simple tool) are eligible, excluding those with prior knee/ankle surgeries, fractures, or conditions like arthritis. Sixty-four participants will be randomly assigned to either an Exercise + Ankle Training group (standard knee exercises plus targeted ankle training) or an Exercise-Only group for 8 weeks under physiotherapist guidance. Outcomes include improvements in knee pain scores (Kujala Scale), ankle flexibility changes, and muscle coordination measured with non-invasive sensors. If effective, ankle flexibility training could provide a low-cost addition to current treatments, helping patients resume activities with less pain. The study follows international ethical guidelines and has received preliminary ethics approval (No. TJUS-2025-054).