Popliteus Muscle Release Versus Kinesio Taping

NCT07290296 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 012/005805
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 48
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Pain intensity

  by visual analogue scale The visual analogue scale represents the pain range that a patient thinks they might experience. The line is typically 10 centimeters long, with anchor descriptors such as (in the pain context) "no pain" and "worst pain imaginable." The patient makes a mark reflecting his or her perception, and the distance from the left endpoint to the mark is measured in centimeters. Higher scores represent worse pain.

  It will be assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks.

• Knee Function

  by kujala scale The Arabic Kujala Patellofemoral Disorder scale, also called the anterior knee pain scale, is composed of 13 multiple-choice questions, each contributing to a total score ranging from 0 to 100. A higher score indicates better knee function and less pain, while a lower score reflects greater pain and disability.

  It will be assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks.

• Balance

  by Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT)

  It will be assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Quadriceps Strength

  It will be assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks.

Study Arms (3)

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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.

Other: Traditional Physical Therapy Treatment

Study Group 1

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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

Other: Traditional Physical Therapy Treatment; Other: Popliteus Muscle Release

Study Group 2

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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

Other: Traditional Physical Therapy Treatment; Other: Kinesio Taping

Interventions

Popliteus Muscle Release OTHER

Myofascial release for the popliteus muscle

Study Group 1

Kinesio Taping OTHER

Kinesio tape on the popliteus muscle

Study Group 2

Traditional Physical Therapy Treatment OTHER

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

Control Group; Study Group 1; Study Group 2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Suez

Suez, Egypt

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Officials

• Hafsa He Abdullah, MSc

  Cairo University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Hafsa He Abdullah, MSc

CONTACT

01007069080; Hafsahesham55@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physical Therapist, MSc in Physical Therapy, Cairo University

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 5, 2025
• First Posted: December 18, 2025
• Study Start: January 10, 2026
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2026
• Study Completion: April 1, 2026
• Last Updated: January 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

EG (1)