Therapeutic patellar taping changes the timing of vasti muscle activation in people with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of the application of tape over the patella on the onset of electromyographic (EMG) activity of vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) relative to vastus lateralis (VL) in participants with and without patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).


METHODS
Randomised within subject.


METHODS
University laboratory.


METHODS
Ten participants with PFPS and 12 asymptomatic controls.


METHODS
Three experimental taping conditions: no tape, therapeutic tape, and placebo tape.


METHODS
Electromyographic onset of VMO and VL assessed during the concentric and eccentric phases of a stair stepping task.


RESULTS
When participants with PFPS completed the stair stepping task, the application of therapeutic patellar tape was found to alter the temporal characteristics of VMO and VL activation, whereas placebo tape had no effect. In contrast, there was no change in the EMG onset of VMO and VL with the application of placebo or therapeutic tape to the knee in the asymptomatic participants.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the use of patellar taping as an adjunct to rehabilitation in people with PFPS.
Cowan
Sallie M
SM
Center for Sports Medicine Research and Education, School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Australia. s.cowan@unimelb.edu.au
Bennell
Kim L
KL
Hodges
Paul W
PW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001458:Bandages; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010329:Patella / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome