Comparison between Mc Connell Patellar Taping and Conventional Physiotherapy Treatment in the Management of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome – A Randomised Controlled Trial

Background: patellofemoral pain syndrome (pfps), also called peripatellar tendinitis in merchant's classification (1988), is the clinical entity of pain on - activity, on patellofemoral joint examination and on stair climbing, squatting, pseudo locking, prolonged sitting etc [1]. varieties of conservative treatments are suggested, including quadriceps strengthening, patellar taping, stretching, electrotherapy and biofeedback with no single intervention being most effective. hence, comparison between the two techniques - patellar taping and the conventional method was undertaken to determine their effectiveness with respect to pain and function. methods: 20 subjects diagnosed with unilateral pfps knee were randomly selected and allocated into two group - group a (mc connell taping and vastus medialis oblique's (vmo exercises) and group b (short wave diathermy and vmo exercises). treatment was continued for two weeks with pre and post pain and function recorded. student's 't' test was used for statistical analysis. results: both groups showed statistically significant pain relief and functional improvements. on comparison, group a showed highly significant pain relief and higher % change for functional increment. conclusion: taping and short wave diathermy (swd) both showed significant pain relief and functional improvement. taping showed highly significant pain relief for eccentric activities with a high % change in function. thus, patellar taping appears more effective in treating pfps