title: A comparison of two taping techniques (kinesio and mcconnell) and their effect on anterior knee pain during functional activities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anterior knee pain is a clinical syndrome characterized by pain experienced perceived over the anterior aspect of the knee that can be aggravated by functional activities such as stair climbing and squatting. Two taping techniques commonly used for anterior knee pain in the clinic include the McConnell Taping Technique (MT) and the Kinesio Taping® Method (KT®).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of KT® and the MT versus no tape in subjects with anterior knee pain during a squat lift and stair climbing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pretest- posttest design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 20 subjects (15 female, 5 male) with unilateral anterior knee pain were recruited. The mean age of the subjects was 24 (+/-3) years, with a mean weight of 160 (+/-28) pounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each participant was tested during two functional activities; a squat lift with a weighted box (10% of his/her body weight, plus the weight [8.5 pounds] of the box) and stair climbing under three conditions: 1) no tape, 2) MT and 3) KT®. Pain levels were assessed (verbally) using the 0-10 Numeric Pain Intensity Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median (interquartile range [IQR]) pain during squat lift was 2 (2.75) for no tape, 1 (1) for KT®, and 0.5 (2) for McConnell, with no significant differences between the groups. During the stair activity the median (IQR) pain was 1.5 (2.75) for no tape, 1 (1.75) for KT®, and 1 (1.75) for MT with a significant difference (p=0.024) between the groups. Further analysis determined that the only a significant difference was (p=0.034) between the no tape and the KT® conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study found that both the KT® and the MT may be effective in reducing pain during stair climbing activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level 2, Prospective Cohort study.
authors.affiliation: University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campolo
authors.forename: Jenie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dmochowska
authors.forename: Shiju
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scariah
authors.forename: Jincy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varughese
keywords: Anterior Knee Pain; Kinesio Taping® Method; McConnell Taping Technique