Foot Orthoses in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: a Prospective Randomized Study of Morpho-specific Versus Placebo Orthoses

Foot Orthoses in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: a Prospective Randomized Study of Morpho-specific Versus Placebo Orthoses

Patellofemoral pain syndrome is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. It is defined as an anterior knee pain. Its origin is a conflict during patellar tracking, due to patellofemoral malalignment and soft tissue overload.

A few recent studies seem to show a benefit of prefabricated feet orthoses in patellofemoral pain syndrome, alone or in association with rehabilitation. However, no one has analyzed the outcome of morpho-specific foot orthoses in a prospective randomized study.

The purpose of this prospective randomized study is to compare clinical outcomes in daily living and in sports activities, between morpho-specific and placebo foot orthoses.

Morpho-specific foot orthoses are designed according to the patient's morphotype. They are intended to correct structural defects of the hindfoot, midfoot and forefoot, in the aim to correct abnormal overload during patellofemoral tracking.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female aged 12-40 years
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Patient affiliated to a social protection regime
• Patient who signed an informed consent
• For teenagers with no complete growth and muscular maturation, failure of appropriate rehabilitation during minimum 2 months
• Patient informed of the results of the prior medical examination
• Normality (no sign of osteoarthritis) of the knee radiographs
• Ability to read and understand French

Exclusion Criteria:

• Knee osteoarthritis
• Systemic disease
• Inflammatory rheumatism disease
• Unstable knee
• Prior patellofemoral dislocation
• Osteochondrosis
• Referred pain from a hip or spine disease (particularly proximal femoral epiphysiolysis in the teenagers)
• A history of patellar trauma
• A history of knee surgery
• Meniscus, ligament or osteochondral pathology
• Knee tendinitis or bursitis
• Neurologic disease
• Pregnancy
• Antidepressant therapy or behavioral disorder
• Patient unable to comply the required maximum observance
• Impossibility to give enlightened information to the patient
• Patient under guardianship