title: Patellar taping in the treatment of patellofemoral pain. A prospective randomized study.
abstract: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of a patellar taping program in the conservative management of patellofemoral pain. Twenty-five patients with patellofemoral pain were randomized into two groups. One group underwent a standard physical therapy program for patellofemoral pain. The other group underwent the same physical therapy program, but use of a patellar taping technique was added to this program. Results of a subjective visual analog scale and changes in isokinetic strength and electromyographic activity of the quadriceps muscle were analyzed. Both the tape and no-tape groups experienced a statistically significant decrease in symptoms (P < 0.05), but no difference in improvement of patellofemoral pain was noted between the groups. Likewise, both groups demonstrated significant improvement in quadriceps muscle isokinetic strength (P < 0.05) and activity (P < 0.001), but no difference in improvement was noted between groups. The results of this study suggest no beneficial effect of adding a patellar taping program to a standard physical therapy program in the conservative treatment of patellofemoral pain. Larger prospective studies are warranted to support this opinion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kowall
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolk
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Nuber
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cassisi
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001458:Bandages; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010329:Patella / Q000503:physiopathology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies