title: Patellar taping does not change the amplitude of electromyographic activity of the vasti in a stair stepping task.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of patellar taping on the amplitude of electromyographic activity (EMG) of vasti activation in subjects with and without patellofemoral pain (PFP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten participants with PFP and 12 asymptomatic controls were recruited to the study. The study was designed as a randomised crossover trial. Participants completed a stair stepping task. Three experimental conditions were assessed: no tape, therapeutic medially directed tape, and placebo vertically directed tape. The main outcome measure was the EMG amplitude of the vastus medialis obliquus and vastus lateralis during the concentric phase of stair stepping.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The application of medially directed therapeutic tape significantly decreased pain in subjects with PFP. However, application of tape over the patella (therapeutic or placebo) did not alter the amplitude of vasti EMG when either the PFP or control participants completed the concentric stair stepping task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that the positive clinical effects of medially directed therapeutic tape are not due to changes in EMG amplitude of the vasti muscle. Thus other effects such as changes in timing of contraction of the vasti are more likely candidates for the mechanism of efficacy.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. s.cowan@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Crossley
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bennell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001458:Bandages; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005269:Femur / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010329:Patella / Q000503:physiopathology; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome