The effects of patellar taping on pain and neuromuscular performance in subjects with patellofemoral pain syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To examine the immediate effects of patellar taping on pain and relative activity of vastus medialis obliquus to vastus lateralis in subjects with patellofemoral pain and patellofemoral joint malalignment. Design: Pre-and post-treatment design, with order of testing determined randomly. Setting: Outpatient physiotherapy department. Subjects: Fifteen subjects with patellofemoral joint pain and malalignment. Interventions: With and without patellar taping with a standard force of application. Main outcome measures: Pain and surface EMG activity ratio of vastus medialis obliquus to vastus lateralis during single-legged semi-squat with 20% of extra body weight loading. Results: There was a significant decrease in anterior knee pain ( p < 0.001) and vastus medialis obliquus to vastus lateralis activity ratio ( p = 0.05) during single-legged standing after patellar taping. Conclusions: Patellar taping can reduce pain in people with patellofemoral pain syndrome and patellofemoral malalignment but it decreases the relative activity of vastus medialis obliquus to vastus lateralis. Such a decrease in relative activity of vastus medialis obliquus after taping implies that it may not be suitable to combine patellar taping with vastus medialis obliquus facilitative exercise training.