2018 Consensus statement on exercise therapy and physical interventions (orthoses, taping and manual therapy) to treat patellofemoral pain
Recommendations from the 5th International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat, Gold Coast, Australia, 2017
Exercise therapy remains the intervention of choice for patellofemoral pain✔️
It is recommended that exercise targeting the hip and knee is a key component of management for all patients with patellofemoral pain, particularly when used in combination.
Combined interventions and foot orthoses are recommended to reduce pain in the short to medium terms📣
The expert panel recommends the use of combined interventions (management programme incorporating exercise in conjunction with at least one of the following: foot orthoses, patellar taping or manual therapy) to reduce pain in the short and medium terms and prefabricated foot orthoses to reduce pain in the short term.
It should be noted that there is no evidence supporting combined interventions beyond 12 months for adults with patellofemoral pain.
Prefabricated foot orthoses remain a recommendation for short-term relief of patellofemoral pain. 👟
Joint mobilisation and electrophysical agents are not recommended for patellofemoral pain♨️
The expert panel recommends against the use of patellofemoral, knee and lumbar mobilisation, as well as electrophysical agents, as primary interventions when managing patients with patellofemoral pain.
It should be noted that patellofemoral mobilisation can be used as a component of a combined intervention approach where appropriate, with evidence and expert opinion in support. It is advised that these passive interventions should not be the focus of future RCTs.
