Popliteus Muscle Release Versus Kinesio Taping

NCT ID: NCT07290296

Last Updated: 2025-12-23

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

48 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-01-31

Study Completion Date

2026-04-30

Brief Summary

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The aim of the current study is to compare the effect of popliteus muscle release and Kinesio taping on pain intensity, function, dynamic balance, and quadriceps muscle strength in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Detailed Description

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Patellofemoral pain syndrome has been described as one of the most perplexing and clinically challenging chronic disorders.

Symptoms usually include diffuse pain originating from the anterior aspect of the patella and commonly along the medial aspect of the knee. It therefore limits daily activities that need loading on a flexed knee. There is a high incidence, especially among runners, with patellofemoral pain syndrome accounting for 46% of running-related injuries. However, the etiology of this disorder remains vague and controversial. This is reflected in the lack of consensus on how patellofemoral pain syndrome should be treated clinically. Patellofemoral pain syndrome participants have demonstrated abnormal gait patterns with decreased stance phase knee flexion, decreased walking velocity, and decreased muscle activity of the quadriceps musculature. Restoration of normal gait kinematics may be an important component of improving function.

The soft tissue manipulation decreased knee pain and improved muscle activity. Therefore, incorporating popliteus manipulation can be effective in the treatment of anterior knee pain.

Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses of Kinesio Taping treatment in different knee or musculoskeletal problems have been published in recent years. The support taping could reduce pain as an adjunct to traditional exercise therapy in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Kinesio Taping has a significant effect on pain reduction, motor function improvement, and muscle activity change.

So, the current study will help to determine the effect of myofascial release and Kinesio Taping of the popliteus muscle on patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Conditions

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Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Control Group

The control group will receive traditional physical therapy treatment at the painful anterior knee, which includes quadriceps strength, hip abduction strength, hip extension strength, hamstring stretch, and gait training.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Traditional Physical Therapy Treatment

Intervention Type OTHER

Quadriceps strength, hip abduction strength, hip extension strength, hamstring stretch, gait training

Study Group 1

Study group 1 will receive traditional treatment as the control group plus release to the popliteus muscle.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Traditional Physical Therapy Treatment

Intervention Type OTHER

Quadriceps strength, hip abduction strength, hip extension strength, hamstring stretch, gait training

Popliteus Muscle Release

Intervention Type OTHER

Myofascial release for the popliteus muscle

Study Group 2

Study group 2 will receive traditional treatment as the control group plus Kinesio tape on the popliteus muscle.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Traditional Physical Therapy Treatment

Intervention Type OTHER

Quadriceps strength, hip abduction strength, hip extension strength, hamstring stretch, gait training

Kinesio Taping

Intervention Type OTHER

Kinesio tape on the popliteus muscle

Interventions

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Traditional Physical Therapy Treatment

Quadriceps strength, hip abduction strength, hip extension strength, hamstring stretch, gait training

Intervention Type OTHER

Popliteus Muscle Release

Myofascial release for the popliteus muscle

Intervention Type OTHER

Kinesio Taping

Kinesio tape on the popliteus muscle

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients of both genders with an age range of 18-30 years old.
* minimum 3-month history of patellofemoral pain.
* a pain score for worst pain intensity during the previous week of 3 or more on a Visual Analog Scale (0-10, most pain).
* reproduced by at least two of the following activities: Stair ascent or descent, hopping, running, prolonged sitting, squatting, or kneeling and present on at least one of the following clinical tests: Compression of the patella or palpation of the patellar facets.

Exclusion Criteria

* Clinical, x-ray, or MRI findings indicative of other specific pathology, including osteoarthritis, meniscal, ligament, or cartilage injury, or apophysitis.
* recurrent patellar subluxation or dislocation.
* cortisone use over an extended period of time.
* previous surgery to the knee joint; trauma to the knee joint affecting the presenting clinical condition.
* physiotherapy or other similar exercises for patellofemoral pain syndrome within the previous 3 months.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

30 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Cairo University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Hafsa Hesham Abdullah

Physical Therapist, MSc in Physical Therapy, Cairo University

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Hafsa He Abdullah, MSc

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Cairo University

Central Contacts

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Hafsa He Abdullah, MSc

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 01007069080

Email: [email protected]

Other Identifiers

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012/005805

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id