Effects of a thermoplastic foot orthosis on patellofemoral pain in a collegiate athlete: a single-subject design.

Abstract

Single-subject, A-B-A-B format. To evaluate the effects of a foot orthosis on pain and function by controlling forefoot pronation. Foot orthoses have been recommended to treat patellofemoral pain by controlling excessive pronation, but few studies have used an experimental design to validate this approach. A 19-year-old collegiate softball player had an acute onset of patellofemoral pain in her left knee. A visual analog scale was used to assess pain intensity and a functional index questionnaire (FIQ) was used to measure the subject's perceived functional level. Statistical analysis using the celeration line technique showed significant improvements between all the consecutive baseline and intervention phases of the VAS data and in 7 of the 9 paired phases of the FIQ data. Limiting pronation with a thermoplastic orthosis was an effective treatment for this subject.