Inclusion criteria:
Age between 18-39.
Having pain in at least two of the following: climbing stairs, descending stairs, squatting, prolonged sitting, running, isometric quadriceps contraction and kneeling.
Pain of at least 30 out of 100 on the Visual Analog Scale in the past three weeks (maximum pain 70).
Positive Clarke and McConnell tests.
Having at least one period of routine physical therapy without impact for patellar maltracking in the past.
Presence of one of the factors that cause disorders in the direction of the patella including defects in supporting muscles and guiding mechanisms, bone abnormalities, lower limb abnormalities, quadriceps muscle abnormalities such as vastus medialis oblique weakness, internal retinaculum laxity, external retinaculum stiffness, iliotibial band stiffness, hamstring shortness, gastrocnemius shortness , patella tendon elongation and patella alta, Q angle increase, genu valgum, genu recurvatum, femoral antiversion, trochlear dysplasia, external tilt of the patella, external displacement of the tibial tubercle or external rotation of the tibia and excessive pronation of the foot.
Presence of at least one trigger point in the popliteus muscle.
Exclusion criteria:
Systemic diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
Neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, etc.
Peripheral nerve entrapment (acute disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, etc).
Connective tissue injuries (torn meniscus, ligament, patella tendinopathy, etc).
History of knee, hip and lower limb surgery.
Injury to the lower limb in the past year or fracture, dislocation and sublaxation.
Pathologies and other similar anterior knee pain include knee osteoarthritis, patellar chondromalacia, osteochondritis dissecans, articular cartilage damage, osgood schlatter, plica syndrome, bone tumors, patellar stress fracture, knee and pes anserine bursitis, fat pad impingement, patellar tendonitis and quadriceps tendinopathy.
Receiving medicine in the previous two weeks.
People who have received rehabilitation treatment, acupuncture or dry needling for patellar maltracking in the last 6 months.
Dry needling contraindications, such as pregnancy, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, epilepsy, presence of lymphedema in the body, history of allergy to needles and injections, needle phobia and patient dissatisfaction.