OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a knee brace compared with minimal intervention on self-reported kinesiophobia and function, objective function and physical activity level in individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP). DESIGN: Single-blind randomized controlled trial (1:1), parallel PARTICIPANTS: Fifty individuals with PFP. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary -- kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia). Secondary -- self-reported function (Anterior Knee Pain Scale), physical activity level (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and objective function (forward step-down test). Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T0), at the end of the intervention (2-weeks) (T1) and at 6-weeks after baseline (T2). INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to one of two interventions groups: (i) use of knee brace for 2 weeks during daily living, sports or painful tasks (brace group); (ii) educational leaflet with information about PFP (leaflet group). RESULTS: The knee brace reduced kinesiophobia in people with PFP compared to minimal intervention with moderate effect size at T1 mean difference (95%CI) -5.56 (-9.18 to -1.93) and T2 -5.24 (-8.58 to -1.89). There was no significant difference in self-reported and objective function and physical activity level. CONCLUSION: The knee brace improved kinesiophobia immediately after intervention (at 2-weeks) and at 6-weeks follow-up in people with PFP compared to minimal intervention. A knee brace may be considered within clinically reasoned paradigms to facilitate exercise-therapy interventions for people with PFP.

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