Immediate effects of dynamic and Kinesio taping on balance and ground reaction forces in women with patellofemoral pain syndrome

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) can impair dynamic balance and vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF). Dynamic Taping (DT) and Kinesio Taping (KT) were recently used to rehabilitate musculoskeletal injuries. This study aimed to compare the effects of Dynamic Taping and Kinesio Taping on the dynamic balance and vertical ground reaction forces during gait in women with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. This study was a three-arm and a single-blind randomized crossover trial. Participants were 39 young women aged 20–30, with Patellofemoral pain syndrome who were randomly divided into three groups: dynamic taping group, Kinesio taping group, and control without tape (WT) group. The rehabilitation protocol, along with the assessment, was carried out across three separate sessions on different days. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-Balance Test, and vertical ground reaction forces were measured during self-selected walking by the participants. The study results indicated that dynamic taping and kinesio taping improved dynamic balance (Anterior p = 0.002,η 2 = 0.244, Posterior-lateral p < 0.001,η 2 = 0.470, and Posterior-Medial p = 0.002,η 2 = 0.284) and vertical ground reaction forces (GRF-Max1 p = 0.007,η 2 = 0.233, GRF-Max2 p = 0.001,η 2 = 0.323, and Contact Time p < 0.001,η 2 = 0.345). Also, dynamic taping was more effective than kinesio taping in variables of dynamic balance in Anterior ( p = 0.042), Posterior-Medial ( p = 0.032), Posterior-lateral ( p = 0.032), and the vertical ground reaction forces in the GRF-Max1 ( p = 0.033), GRF-Max2 ( p = 0.002), and Contact Time ( p = 0.045). Considering that the improvement in dynamic balance in Anterior, Posterior-Medial, Posterior-lateral, and the vertical ground reaction forces in the GRF-Max1, GRF-Max2, and Contact Time was greater in the dynamic taping group compared to kinesio taping, dynamic taping can be considered as a complementary program to rehabilitation protocols for Patellofemoral pain syndrome. Trial registration: IRCTID, IRCT20200204046368N10 (03/06/2023). Registered 1 June 2023.