Foot orthoses and physiotherapy in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome: randomised clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical efficacy of foot orthoses in the management of patellofemoral pain syndrome with flat inserts or physiotherapy, and to investigate the effectiveness of foot orthoses plus physiotherapy.


METHODS
Prospective, single blind, randomised clinical trial.


METHODS
Single centre trial within a community setting in Brisbane, Australia.


METHODS
179 participants (100 women) aged 18 to 40 years, with a clinical diagnosis of patellofemoral pain syndrome of greater than six weeks' duration, who had no previous treatment with foot orthoses or physiotherapy in the preceding 12 months.


METHODS
Six weeks of physiotherapist intervention with off the shelf foot orthoses, flat inserts, multimodal physiotherapy (patellofemoral joint mobilisation, patellar taping, quadriceps muscle retraining, and education), or foot orthoses plus physiotherapy.


METHODS
Global improvement, severity of usual and worst pain over the preceding week, anterior knee pain scale, and functional index questionnaire measured at 6, 12, and 52 weeks.


RESULTS
Foot orthoses produced improvement beyond that of flat inserts in the short term, notably at six weeks(relative risk reduction 0.66,99%confidence interval 0.05 to 1.17; NNT 4 (99% confidence interval 2 to 51). No significant differences were found between foot orthoses and physiotherapy, or between physiotherapy and physiotherapy plus orthoses. All groups showed clinically meaningful improvements in primary outcomes over 52 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
While foot orthoses are superior to flat inserts according to participants' overall perception, they are similar to physiotherapy and do not improve outcomes when added to physiotherapy in the short term management of patellofemoral pain. Given the long term improvement observed in all treatment groups, general practitioners may seek to hasten recovery by prescribing prefabricated orthoses.
Collins
Natalie
N
School of Health andRehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 4072b.
Crossley
Kay
K
Beller
Elaine
E
Darnell
Ross
R
McPoil
Thomas
T
Vicenzino
Bill
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010147:Pain Measurement; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult