Background & objectives: Hip muscles insufficiency plays a significant role in deterioration of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), which can be manifested as myofascial trigger point (MTrPs) in hip muscles. Then, our purpose was to determine the prevalence of MTrPs in the gluteus medius (GMe) and quadratus lumborum (QL) muscles and to investigate the effect of a therapeutic intervention on pain intensity and hip abductor muscles isometric strength in patients with PFPS.

Methods: Forty volunteer subjects (20 patients and 20 healthy) participated in the study. Latent MTrPs in GMe and QL were evaluated and a handheld dynamometer was used to measure peak isometric strength test (PIST) for hip abductors. Patients with PFPS having MTrPs in GMe were randomly divided into either a treatment group (Mean age±SD: 23.2±4.3 years) or control (Mean age±SD: 24.4±4.6 years). The therapeutic intervention included trigger point pressure release (TrPPR) and Kinesio Taping^® (KT). Pain intensity and PIST for hip abductors were assessed at baseline and after intervention in both groups.

Results: There is more significant patients with PFPS having latent MTrPs in GMe and QL than the healthy counterparts (p<0.001). Using TrPPR and KT significantly decreases pain in such patients (p<0.001); however, no significant effect was observed on hip abductors peak isometric strength (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Concomitant using of TrPPR therapy and KT method can decrease pain intensity in individuals with PFPS. Further studies are required to understand the underlying mechanisms.