Effects of Kinesio Taping with Conventional Physiotherapy on Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome among University Football Players

Introduction. Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common musculoskeletal condition among sports players, often resulting in anterior knee pain and functional limitations. While conventional physiotherapy remains a cornerstone of treatment, Kinesio Taping (KT) has emerged as a complementary approach aimed at enhancing rehabilitation outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of KT combined with conventional physiotherapy versus conventional physiotherapy alone in improving pain and performance measures in football players with PFPS.

Material and Methods. The present quasi experimental study included 52 football players aged 18-25 years with PFPS. They were divided into two groups (n = 26 each). KT group received KT with conventional physiotherapy, while conventional group received physiotherapy alone. The intervention was administered three times a week for four weeks. Outcome measures included pain, speed, agility, vertical jump height, dynamic balance and Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale (KAKPS) score.

Results. KT group exhibited significant improvements in all variables (p < 0.05) at a confidence interval of 95%. VAS improved from 6.15 ± 1.04 to 2.23 ± 0.95, speed improved from 4.73 ± 0.31 to 4.65. There was also an improvement in agility (12.18 ± 0.62 to 12.07 ± 0.64), vertical jump height (43.17 ± 6.20 to 46.82 ± 6.68), Y balance score (77.44 ± 2.36 to 84.61 ± 3.55) and Kujala score (61.08 ± 3.97 to 91.27 ± 4.41). Conventional group also showed statistically significant differences in all variables except agility. On comparison, KT group showed statistically superior outcomes (p < 0.05) in pain intensity, speed, balance and Kujala score (effect size: 1.22, 0.82,1.24 and 0.62, respectively) relative to conventional group.

Conclusions. Kinesio Taping, when combined with conventional physiotherapy, significantly improved pain reduction, speed, balance and Kujala score compared to conventional physiotherapy alone.