Effectiveness of Kinesio tape in the treatment of patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the Kinesio tape in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) by meta-analysis. Methods: Two investigators independently conducted an electronic literature search to assess the outcomes of intramuscular patches for PFPS. Electronic databases included PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wanfang Database, Chinese Journal Full Text Database (CNKI), and Wipo Database from November 2023. Extracted inclusion indicators included pain score VAS or NRS, knee function assessment knee pain syndrome (Kujala) score, and knee symptom score Lysholm knee score scale. Data were extracted and then meta-analyzed using Review Manager 5.3 software and Stata 17.0 software. Result: Fourteen studies were included, all of which were randomized controlled studies. The results showed that short-term pain relief was superior in the Kinesio tape (KT) group compared with the control group, with a statistically significant difference in the results (MD = −1.54, 95% CI [−2.32, −0.76], P = .0001); medium-term pain relief was superior in the KT group compared with the control group, with a statistically significant difference in the results (MD = −0.84, 95% CI [−1.50, −0.18], P = .01); long-term pain relief in the KT group was better than the control group, with statistically different results (MD = −0.56, 95% CI [−0.98, −0.13], P < .00001). In contrast, there was no significant difference between the KT group and the control group in the assessment of knee function (MD = −0.98, 95% CI [−4.03, 2.06], P = .03), and there was no significant difference between the KT group and the control group in the Lysholm knee score scale score of knee symptoms (MD = 4.18, 95% CI [−6.70, 15.05], P = .45). Conclusion: Kinesio taping can effectively relieve the pain of PFPS, but has no significant effect on the improvement of knee joint function and symptoms.