Table 2

Study characteristics

Diagnostic criteria	Duration of complaints (weeks)	Orthotic group (O)		Control group (C)		Follow-up time (weeks)	Outcome measure	Change scores^*	Mean difference (95% CI)^†	Effect size
Diagnostic criteria	Duration of complaints (weeks)	Treatment	No of subjects	Treatment	No of subjects	Follow-up time (weeks)	Outcome measure	Change scores^*	Mean difference (95% CI)^†	Effect size
RCTs of knee braces and exercise therapy vs exercise therapy only
Denton et al15
PFPS 34% female Age: 13–55 years Mean (SD): 28 (^?)	>4	Protonics system and exercise therapy	17	Exercise therapy	17	6	Pain: VPS during:
							Lateral step-up test	O: 4.6^¶	1.3^‡	^‡
							Lateral step-up test	C: 3.3^¶
							Function: KPS	O: 28.9^¶	4.9^‡	^‡
							Function: KPS	C: 24^¶
							Performance: Step-up test	O: 4^¶	−1^‡	^‡
							Performance: Step-up test	C: 5^¶
Miller et al19
AKP 19% female Age: ^?	3	Palumbo dynamic patellar brace and exercise therapy	20	Exercise therapy	13	2–3	Pain: VAS during:
							Activity	O: 2.04	1.35^‡	^‡
								C: 0.69
		Cho Pad knee strap and exercise therapy	18	Exercise therapy	13	2–3	Pain: VAS during activity	O: 1.78	1.09^‡	^‡
		Cho Pad knee strap and exercise therapy	18	Exercise therapy	13	2–3	Pain: VAS during activity	C: 0.69
Lun et al18
PFPS 79% female Age: 18–60 years Mean (SD): 35 (^?)	2	Home exercise therapy and a Y-shaped patellar brace	32	Home exercise therapy	34	12	Pain: VAS during:
							Sport activity	O: 1.5	0 (−0.61 to 0.61)	0
								C: 1.5	0 (−0.61 to 0.61)
							1 h after sport activity	O: 1.5	−0.4 (−0.95 to 0.15)	−0.14
							1 h after sport activity	C: 1.9	−0.4 (−0.95 to 0.15)	−0.14
							Following 30 min of sitting with flexed knees	O: 1.5	0.1 (−0.53 to 0.83)	0.04
							Following 30 min of sitting with flexed knees	C: 1.4	0.1 (−0.53 to 0.83)	0.04
							Function: KF	O: 2	−3 (−5.06 to −0.95)^§	−0.33
							Function: KF	C: 5	−3 (−5.06 to −0.95)^§	−0.33
RCT of knee braces and exercise therapy vs placebo braces and exercise therapy
Lun et al18
PFPS 79% female Age: 18–60 years Mean (SD): 35 (^?)	2	Home exercise therapy and a Y-shaped patellar brace	32	Home exercise therapy and knee sleeve	31	12	Pain: VAS during:
							Sport activity	O: 1.6	0.1 (−0.57 to 0.77)	0.03
							Sport activity	C: 1.5	0.1 (−0.57 to 0.77)	0.03
							1 h after sport activity	O: 2.2	0.3 (−0.28 to 0.88)	0.10
							1 h after sport activity	C: 1.9	0.3 (−0.28 to 0.88)	0.10
							Following 30 min of sitting with flexed knees	O: 1.6	0.2 (−0.47 to 0.87)	0.06
							Following 30 min of sitting with flexed knees	C: 1.4	0.2 (−0.47 to 0.87)	0.06
							Function: KF	O: 4	−1 (−2.98 to 0.98)	−0.12
							Function: KF	C: 5	−1 (−2.98 to 0.98)	−0.12
RCT of tape and exercise therapy vs exercise therapy only
Whittingham et al20
PFPS 20% female Age: 17–25 years Mean (SD) 18.7 (1.2)	^?	Medially directed tape and exercise therapy	10	Exercise therapy	10	4	Pain: VAS during:
							Pervious 24 h	O: 7.5C: 5.7	1.8 (1.60 to 2.00)^§	2.00
							Pervious 24 h	O: 7.5C: 5.7	1.8 (1.60 to 2.00)^§
							A step test without tape	O: 7.4	1.7 (1.50 to 1.99)^§	1.89
							A step test without tape	C: 5.7	1.7 (1.50 to 1.99)^§	1.89
							Function: FIQ	O: 8.4	2.6 (2.38 to 2.82)^§	2.89
							Function: FIQ	C: 5.8	2.6 (2.38 to 2.82)^§	2.89
Clark et al13
AKP/PFPS 44% female Age: 15–40 years Mean (SD) ^?	>12	Education, exercise therapy and tape	20	Education and exercise therapy	20	12	Pain: Mean VAS during:
							Climbing stairs and walking	O: 39.7	−7.4 (−18.03 to 3.23)	−0.19
							Climbing stairs and walking	C: 47.1	−7.4 (−18.03 to 3.23)	−0.19
							Function: WOMAC	O: 13.7	0 (−3.45 to 3.45)	0
							Function: WOMAC	C: 13.7	0 (−3.45 to 3.45)	0
						52	Pain: Mean VAS during climbing stairs and walking	O: 40.0	0.7 (−6.30 to 7.70)	0.02
							Pain: Mean VAS during climbing stairs and walking	C: 39.3	0.7 (−6.30 to 7.70)	0.02
							Function: WOMAC	O: 10.4C: 8.1	2.3 (−3.00 to 7.60)	0.18
Kowall et al17
^?68% female Age: 14–40 years Mean (SD) 29 (^?)	>4	Exercise therapy and tape	12	Exercise therapy	13	4	Pain: VAS	O: 14^¶	0^‡	0
^?68% female Age: 14–40 years Mean (SD) 29 (^?)	>4	Exercise therapy and tape	12	Exercise therapy	13	4	Pain: VAS	C: 14^¶	0^‡	0
RCT of tape and exercise therapy vs placebo tape and exercise therapy
Whittingham et al20
PFPS 20% female Age: 17–25 years Mean (SD) 18.7 (1.2)	^?	Medially directed tape and exercise therapy	10	Placebo tape and exercise therapy	10	4	Pain: VAS during:
							Pervious 24 h	O: 7.5	0.9 (0.75 to 1.05)^§	1.00
							Pervious 24 h	C: 6.6	0.9 (0.75 to 1.05)^§	1.00
							A step test without tape	O: 7.4	1.1 (0.99 to 1.21)^§	1.38
							A step test without tape	C: 6.3	1.1 (0.99 to 1.21)^§	1.38
							Function: FIQ	O: 8.4	2.7 (2.46 to 2.94)^§	3
							Function: FIQ	C: 5.7	2.7 (2.46 to 2.94)^§	3
RCT of foot orthotics and exercise therapy vs exercise therapy only
Collins et al14
PFPS 55.9% female Age: 18–40 years Mean (SD) 29.3 (5.8)	>6	Exercise therapy and foot orthotics	44	Exercise therapy	45	6	Pain: VAS for:
							Usual pain	O: 19.4	−1.8 (−5.40 to 1.80)	−0.10
							Usual pain	C: 21.2	−1.8 (−5.40 to 1.80)	−0.10
							Worst pain	O: 28.5	−3.6 (−5.90 to 1.29)	−0.22
							Worst pain	C: 32.2	−3.6 (−5.90 to 1.29)	−0.22
							Function: KPS	O: 83.6	0.2 (−1.69 to 2.09)	0.02
							Function: KPS	C: 83.4	0.2 (−1.69 to 2.09)	0.02
							Function: FIQ	O: 13.3	0.5 (0.26 to 0.74)^§	0.22
							Function: FIQ	C: 12.9	0.5 (0.26 to 0.74)^§	0.22
						52	Pain: VAS for:
							Usual pain	O: 14.4	0.4 (−3.45 to 4.25)	0.02
							Usual pain	C: 13.9	0.4 (−3.45 to 4.25)	0.02
							Worst pain	O: 18.8	−3.3 (−8.24 to 1.64)	0.20
							Worst pain	C: 22.2	−3.3 (−8.24 to 1.64)	0.20
							Function: KPS	O: 91.5	3.6 (1.58 to 5.61)^§	0.34
							Function: KPS	C: 87.9	3.6 (1.58 to 5.61)^§	0.34
							Function: FIQ	O: 13.8	−0.5 (−1.04 to 0.04)	−0.22
							Function: FIQ	C: 14.2	−0.5 (−1.04 to 0.04)	−0.22
Eng and Pierrynowski16
PFPS 100% female Age: 13–17 years Mean (SD) 14.8 (1.2)	>6	Exercise therapy and foot orthotics	10	Exercise therapy	10	6	Pain: VAS during:
							Walking	O: 2^¶	1.5^‡	^‡
							Walking	C: 0.5^¶	1.5^‡	^‡
							Running	O: 3^¶	2.5^‡^§	^‡
							Running	C: 0.5^¶	2.5^‡^§	^‡

↵? indicates unknown/not reported.
↵* Change scores in the O and C group. Positive scores indicate improvement, ie, less pain or better function.
↵† Difference in change scores between O and C.
↵‡ Not enough information was provided to make this assessment.
↵§ Significant difference between orthotics group and control group.
↵¶ Data abstracted from figures.
AKP, anterior knee pain; FIQ, functional index questionnaire (0–16); KF, knee function scale (0–53); KPS, Kujala patellofemoral score (0–100); PFPS, patellofemoral pain syndrome; RCT, randomised controlled trial; VAS, visual analogue scale score (0–100); VPS, verbal pain score (0–10); WOMAC, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Questionnaire (0–100).