Article

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. DISCUSSION: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
CI - Crown Copyright (c) 2010. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS