Two Weeks of Wearing a Knee Brace Compared With Minimal Intervention on Kinesiophobia at 2 and 6 Weeks in People With Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of a knee brace compared with minimal intervention on self-reported kinesiophobia and function, objective function, and physical activity level in people with patellofemoral pain (PFP).

Design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial (1:1), parallel.

Participants: Individuals with PFP (N=50).

Main outcome measures: Primary: kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia). Secondary: self-reported function (Anterior Knee Pain Scale), physical activity level (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), and objective function (forward step-down test). Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T₀), at the end of the intervention (2wk) (T₁), and at 6 weeks after baseline (T₂).

Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 interventions groups: (1) use of knee brace for 2 weeks during daily living, sports, or painful tasks (brace group) and (2) educational leaflet with information about PFP (leaflet group).

Results: The knee brace reduced kinesiophobia in people with PFP compared with minimal intervention with moderate effect size at T₁=mean difference (95% CI) -5.56 (-9.18 to -1.93) and T₂=-5.24 (-8.58 to -1.89). There was no significant difference in self-reported and objective function and physical activity level.

Conclusions: The knee brace improved kinesiophobia immediately after intervention (at 2wk) and at 6-week follow-up in people with PFP compared with minimal intervention. A knee brace may be considered within clinically reasoned paradigms to facilitate exercise therapy interventions for people with PFP.

Keywords: Fear; Knee; Orthotic devices; Patellofemoral pain syndrome; Rehabilitation.