Neuromuscular training, manual therapy, and augmented low-Dye taping for pronated foot correction in anterior knee pain: RCT study protocol

Purpose. Anterior knee pain (AKP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems among adolescents, with an annual prevalence rate of 22.7% to 28.9%. Excessively pronated foot posture is a biomechanical factor that contributes to the risk of AKP. Physiotherapy plays a vital role in treating AKP. The aim of this research is to investigate the efficacy of neuromuscular training and manual therapy with augmented low-Dye taping for pronated foot correction in the management of AKP. Materials and methods. A prospective, double-blind, randomised controlled trial involving 48 individuals suffering from anterior knee pain will be conducted for this study. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to groups and will receive 12 sessions of talonavicular joint mobilisation (TJM), manual therapy, and neuromuscular exercises with antipronation and augmented low-Dye taping interventions over 4 weeks at Mediclinic Al Noor Hospital. The outcome measures include pain, functional limitations, foot posture, and dynamic valgus index (DVI), assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and follow-up (post-intervention). Discussion. Previous literature supports that manual therapy and neuromuscular training exercises with anti-pronation augmented low-Dye taping are effective treatments for patients with AKP. We strongly believe that the evidence-based interventions used in this research for treating anterior knee pain will provide significant improvements in pain, functional limitations, foot posture, and dynamic valgus index (DVI).