Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: Focused Vibrations Plus Kinesiotaping with Insights into Radiological Influences-An Observational Study.

Abstract

Background: This observational study investigates the efficacy of combining local muscle vibration (LMV) therapy and kinesiotaping using the McConnell method (KMcCM) in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). PFPS is a prevalent knee condition characterized by anterior or medial knee pain exacerbated by activities that overload the patellofemoral joint.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of LMV combined with KMcCM in reducing pain and improving function in PFPS patients.

Methods: A total of 52 participants, aged 25-85, with PFPS were included. Participants underwent LMV and KMcCM treatments three times weekly for three weeks. Pain and function were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at baseline (T0) and six months post-treatment (T1). Radiological assessments of patellar alignment and biomechanics were also conducted through dynamic MRI.

Results: Significant pain reduction and functional improvements were observed across all age groups. Notably, younger participants showed greater improvement compared to older participants. Among women, those in the younger age group experienced more substantial reductions in VAS scores compared to their older counterparts. KOOS scores improved significantly, indicating enhanced knee function overall. A significant decrease in VAS scores from T0 to T1 was observed across all patellar alignment groups, signifying a reduction in pain levels. However, Group 2 (Laxation and Subluxation) experienced the most substantial reduction in VAS scores at T1 compared to the other groups. These results suggest that the combination of LMV and KMcCM may be particularly effective in addressing biomechanical abnormalities associated with patellar maltracking and enhancing VMO muscle contraction, leading to more substantial improvements in these patients.

Conclusions: The combination of LMV and KMcCM demonstrates promising efficacy in reducing pain and improving knee function in PFPS patients, with age and gender influencing treatment outcomes. The most significant improvements were observed in younger individuals and those with specific patellar alignment issues, highlighting the potential of this combined approach for the targeted treatment of PFPS.