Effect of Adding Kinesio Taping to Exercise Therapy in the Treatment of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Background and objectives: Patellar taping has been widely used for the primary or adjunctive treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS); however, there are limited data in terms of functional outcomes. This study aimed to investigate whether there is any beneficial effect of adding Kinesio Taping((R)) (KT) to exercise therapy in the treatment of PFPS. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients (27.5 +/- 5.4 years) with PFPS who applied KT and 19 patients (27.3 +/- 7.4 years) who did not were included in this study. Quadriceps muscle strength and acceleration time (AT) were assessed using an isokinetic device. Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated using the Kujala anterior knee pain scale (AKPS). Both groups underwent one-month exercise therapy. Results: There was no significant difference in quadriceps strength, AT, and AKPS at baseline and at 1 month between the taping and non-taping groups (p > 0.05). However, for quadriceps muscle strength, the effect of time*group interaction was statistically significant (F(1.37) = 4.543, p < 0.05, partial eta squared 0.109), showing that improvement in the quadriceps strength was higher in the non-taping group than that in the taping group. Conclusions: Adding KT to exercise therapy did not elicit extra benefits in quadriceps muscle strength and AT, and AKPS among PFPS with abnormal patellar tracking at one month.