title: Effect of patellar strap and sports tape on pain in patellar tendinopathy: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Numerous athletes with patellar tendinopathy (PT) use a patellar strap or sports tape during sports. This study's aim was to investigate the short-term effect of these orthoses on patellar tendon pain. Participants performed the single-leg decline squat, vertical jump test, and triple-hop test under four different conditions (patellar strap, sports tape, placebo, and control). Subsequently, participants practiced sports as usual for 2 weeks; during 1 week, they were assigned to one of the four conditions. Pain was measured with the visual analog scale (VAS). In total, 97 athletes with PT [61% male, age 27.0 (SD8.1), VISA-P 58.5 (SD12.7)] were analyzed. On the single-leg decline squat, the VAS pain score reduced significantly in the patellar strap (14 mm, P = 0.04) and the sports tape condition (13 mm, P = 0.04), compared with control, but not placebo. A significant decrease in VAS pain during sports was found in the sports tape (7 mm, P = 0.04) and placebo group (6 mm, P = 0.04). The VAS pain score two hours after sports decreased significantly in the patellar strap, sports tape and placebo group (8-mm, P < 0.001, 10 mm, P = 0.001 and 7 mm, P = 0.03, respectively). This study's findings indicate that an orthosis (including placebo tape) during sports can reduce pain in PT patients in the short term.
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. a.j.de.vries02@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zwerver
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diercks
authors.affiliation: Sports Rehabilitation and Manual Therapy Unit, Physiotherapy Utrecht Oost, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tak
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Department, Isala Zwolle, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Berkel
authors.affiliation: Sports Medical Center Papendal, Arnhem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Cingel
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van der Worp
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van den Akker-Scheek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055052:Athletic Tape; D001915:Braces; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017847:Patellar Ligament; D010919:Placebos; D013177:Sports; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos
keywords: Jumper's knee; brace; patellar tendon; prevention