title: The effect of an exercise program in conjunction with short-period patellar taping on pain, electromyogram activity, and muscle strength in patellofemoral pain syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  McConnell recommended that patellar tape be kept on all day, until patients learn how to activate their vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) during an exercise program. This application may pose problems because prolonged taping may be inadvisable for some patients or even contraindicated owing to skin discomfort, irritation, or allergic reaction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Wearing patellofemoral tape for a shorter duration during an exercise program would be just as beneficial as a prolonged taping application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients and 16 healthy people participated. Patients underwent short-period patellar taping plus an exercise program for 3 months. Numeric pain rating, muscle strength of the knee extensors, and electromyogram activity of the vastus lateralis and VMO were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in electromyogram activity (P = .04) and knee extensor muscle strength (P = .03) between involved and uninvolved sides before treatment. After treatment, pain scores decreased, and there were no significant differences between involved and uninvolved sides in electromyogram activity (P = .68) and knee extensor strength (P = .62). Before treatment, mean VMO activation started significantly later than that of vastus lateralis, as compared with the matched healthy control group (P = .01). After treatment, these differences were nonsignificant (P = .08).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-period patellar taping plus an exercise program improves VMO and vastus lateralis activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A shorter period of taping for the exercise program may be as beneficial as a prolonged taping application.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Sports Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey ; Centre for Rehabilitation Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Defne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Michael James
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Callaghan
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozdag
authors.forename: Ozgur Ahmet
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Atay
authors.forename: Inci
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.forename: Mahmut Nedim
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Doral