title: Foot biomechanics and initial effects of infrapatellar strap on gait parameters in patients with unilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is limited information on the relationship between plantar foot pressure and patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). In addition, there is not enough research on the effects of an infrapatellar strap on PFPS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of an infrapatellar strap on dynamic pedabarography in patients with unilateral PFPS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical case control study design. 18 females subjects with unilateral PFPS were included in the study. Gait parameters were tested using pedabarography during barefoot walking with and without an infrapatellar strap.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences in gait trials comparing infrapatellar strap to no strap (P>0.05). In addition, a significant difference (P=0.043) in the % forefoot surface on the involved side demonstrated that body weight is transferred to medial aspect of the foot.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although our results show a difference between the forefoot surface % of the affected and unaffected sides of subjects with PFPS there was no indication that an infrapatellar strap had any immediate effect on this parameter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is not clear whether PFPS is a cause or effect of abnormal gait. Further research is warranted to investigate the long-term effects of wearing an infrapatellar strap and associated altered foot biomechanics due to PFPS.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey. nilbek@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Nilgun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bek
authors.forename: Gizem İrem
authors.initials: Gİ
authors.lastname: Kinikli
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Callaghan
authors.forename: Ozgur Ahmet
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Atay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001915:Braces; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology