An interventional study of Kinesio Taping and McConnell Taping in Patello Femoral Pain Syndrome, Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome and PFPS, sponsored by Cairo University. Recruiting at 1 site in Lebanon. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-26.
Sponsored by Cairo University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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.
Kinesio Taping and McConnell Taping are commonly used as adjuncts to exercise therapy in the management of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Both techniques have been shown to improve pain and function in the short term; however, evidence directly comparing their long-term effects when combined with a standardized exercise program remains limited. Furthermore, the influence of taping modality on quadriceps muscle activation and lower-limb kinematic patterns during rehabilitation has not been fully established.
Based on this, the investigators hypothesize that both interventions will improve clinical and neuromuscular outcomes.
297 studies on the registry are indexed under Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome; 74 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 80 is above the median of 45 across 244 interventional studies indexed under Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.
Browse Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome studies →Cairo University is the lead sponsor of 4,941 studies on the registry; 1,458 are open to participants now.
Of its 37 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 5 (14%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
The subjects will receive Kinesio Taping combined with the structured exercise program.
Other: Kinesio Taping
The subjects will receive McConnell Taping combined with the structured exercise program.
Other: McConnell Taping
A standardized hip-knee strengthening and neuromotor training program will be performed for 6 weeks.
Other: Exercise Therapy
Kinesio Taping will be applied to the patellofemoral joint during a 6-week structured hip-knee exercise program.
Also known as: Elastic Kinesio Taping, Kinesiology Taping, K-Tape
McConnell Taping will be applied to correct patellar alignment during a 6-week structured hip-knee exercise program.
Also known as: Patellar Taping, Non-Elastic Taping
A standardized hip-knee strengthening and neuromotor training program will be performed for 6 weeks.
Also known as: Exercise
VMO and VL Muscle Activation Amplitude
Surface electromyography (sEMG) amplitude of the Vastus Medialis Obliquus (VMO) and Vastus Lateralis (VL) muscles recorded during a standardized single-leg squat task. Higher values indicate greater muscle activation.
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks).
VMO/VL Activation Ratio
Ratio of VMO to VL electromyographic activity during a standardized single-leg squat task. The ideal VMO/VL ratio should be close or equal to 1; a ratio greater than 1 reflects higher VMO activation, while a ratio less than 1 reflects a greater VL activation.
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks).
VMO Onset Timing
Period from movement initiation to onset of VMO and VL activation, measured using sEMG during a standardized single-leg squat task; measured in ms.
Time frame: Baseline to post-intervention (6 weeks).
VMO-VL Activation Delay
Difference in activation onset timing between the VMO and VL muscles during a standardized single-leg squat task, measured using sEMG; measured in ms.
Time frame: Baseline to post-intervention (6 weeks).
Pain Intensity
Task-specific pain intensity measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain; measured during a standardized single-leg squat, reflecting pain experienced during functional loading.
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks).
Functional Knee Pain
Knee-related symptoms and functional disability assessed using the Kujala Score (AKPS), ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicating better knee function and lower disability.
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks).
Dynamic Knee Valgus
Frontal-plane projection angle in degrees, measured during a standardized single-leg squat to quantify lower-limb movement quality and dynamic knee control under functional load.
Time frame: Baseline and post intervention (6 weeks).
Plan to share: No
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