Effects of Kinesio Taping Versus McConnell Taping on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.

NCT07671482 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: KT vs McT and exercise in PFPS
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Patello Femoral Pain Syndrome; Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome; PFPS; Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome; Patellofemoral Disorder; Patellofemoral Pain, PFP; Patellofemoral Pain (PFPS)

Keywords

Electromyography; EMG; Kinesio Taping; McConnell Taping; Exercise Therapy; Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome; Single-Leg Squat

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• 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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  Baseline to post-intervention (6 weeks).

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Pain Intensity

  Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks).

• Functional Knee Pain

  Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks).

• Dynamic Knee Valgus

  Baseline and post intervention (6 weeks).

Study Arms (3)

Kinesio Tape Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The subjects will receive Kinesio Taping combined with the structured exercise program.

Other: Kinesio Taping

McConnell Taping Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The subjects will receive McConnell Taping combined with the structured exercise program.

Other: McConnell Taping

Exercise Only Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

A standardized hip-knee strengthening and neuromotor training program will be performed for 6 weeks.

Other: Exercise Therapy

Interventions

Kinesio Taping OTHER

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

Kinesio Tape Group

McConnell Taping OTHER

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

McConnell Taping Group

Exercise Therapy OTHER

A standardized hip-knee strengthening and neuromotor training program will be performed for 6 weeks.

Also known as: Exercise

Exercise Only Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Anterior or retropatellar pain for a minimum of 3 months during functional activities.
• years of age.
• Minimum pain of 3/10 on the VAS score.
• No LL physical therapy in the past 3 months.

You may not qualify if:

• Meniscal or ligamentous injury
• Neurological or systemic conditions affecting proprioception, coordination and balance.
• Spinal referred pain or rheumatoid arthritis.
• Hip and ankle disorders.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead

Study Sites (1)

PTOC Beirut Arab University

Beirut, Beirut, 0000, Lebanon

RECRUITING

Related Publications (3)

• Jiao H, Tao M, Cui X. Efficacy on pain and knee function of Kinesio taping among patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025 Apr 21;26(1):388. doi: 10.1186/s12891-025-08627-7.

  PMID: 40259274 RESULT

• Chang WD, Chen FC, Lee CL, Lin HY, Lai PT. Effects of Kinesio Taping versus McConnell Taping for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:471208. doi: 10.1155/2015/471208. Epub 2015 Jun 21.

  PMID: 26185517 RESULT

• Pereira PM, Baptista JS, Conceicao F, Duarte J, Ferraz J, Costa JT. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Risk Associated with Squats: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 28;19(15):9241. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159241.

  PMID: 35954598 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Interventions

Exercise Therapy; Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Ahmed El Melhat, PhD

  Cairo University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Ahmed El Melhat, PhD

CONTACT

+201112595022; ahmed.elmelhat@cu.edu.eg

Mohamad Ibrahim Baayoun, BSc

CONTACT

+96181852495; mohdbaa500@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor of MSK Physical Therapy, BAU and Cairo university

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 19, 2026
• First Posted: June 26, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 26, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

LE (1)