Adjuncts

Adjunct treatments for patellofemoral pain are presented with a practical focus on foot orthoses and patellar taping. The lecture first explains why foot assessment is challenging: foot biomechanics vary greatly between individuals, so it is difficult to identify exactly whose knee pain is influenced by foot posture or function. Even so, evidence suggests that greater navicular drop and certain walking and running force patterns may increase risk, and foot mechanics are linked with movement higher up the kinetic chain, including tibial rotation and hip adduction. Foot orthoses are described as evidence-based and recommended in international consensus guidance, with a meaningful proportion of patients improving. Learners are shown simple ways to identify likely responders, including midfoot width change and immediate symptom relief during treatment direction tests such as taping or prefabricated orthoses. Patellar taping is then covered as another short-term option with level-one evidence for pain reduction. Tailored taping appears more effective than a standard medial glide, although the exact mechanism may not be purely biomechanical. Overall, the emphasis is on short-term symptom management, individual response, and careful clinical reasoning.