Patellofemoral Pain (PFPS)

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.

Patellofemoral joint (PFJ) pain is a common, often chronic, aching pain behind or around the kneecap, frequently called "runner's knee". It occurs when the kneecap does not glide smoothly over the thigh bone, often due to muscle weakness or overuse. It makes sitting for long periods, climbing stairs, or kneeling painful. Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common, long-term condition where the protective cartilage in the knee joint wears away, causing the bones to rub together, leading to daily pain and stiffness. In simple terms, it is a "wear-and-tear" disease of the entire joint that makes walking, climbing stairs, or bending the knee difficult. The PFJ is where the patella (kneecap) meets the femoral trochlea (front part of the lower thigh bone) at the front of the knee. Patellar tracking refers to the movement of the patella that begins to engage in the distal femoral trochlear groove (smooth, U-shaped groove at the bottom of the thigh bone). By doing this study, we hope to advance clinical knowledge of the PTJ features in a more natural position by using weight-bearing computed tomography (WBCT) images while the leg is straight and slightly bent. Determining links between specific knee symptoms and the PTJ structure on WBCT images could enable providers to effectively target the underlying causes and to develop targeted treatments.

The study aims to explore the effect of body position (side-lying versus standing) on hip abductors muscle strength and activation in individuals with and without PFPS and then to compare these measures between the two groups in each position

This randomized, Single-blind, parallel-group trial will compare the effects of three hamstring stretching interventions-general hamstring Muscle Energy Technique (MET), medial hamstring MET, and lateral hamstring MET-each combined with standardized TENS and progressive hip/knee strengthening, on hamstring flexibility (knee-extension ROM), anterior knee pain (Arabic Kujala score), pain intensity visual analogue scale (VAS), and lower-limb strength (hand-held dynamometer) in adults with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).