Patellar taping increases vastus medialis oblique activity in the presence of patellofemoral pain

A common rehabilitation strategy for patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), which lacks scientific evidence, includes pulling the patella medially with tape to reduce pain and increase the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) muscle activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of various patellar taping procedures on force production, EMG activity of the VMO and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles, and perceived pain experienced by 30 women (27.3 +/- 1.53 years), half diagnosed with PFPS. The perceived pain, force, and EMG of the VMO and VL, were recorded while subjects performed maximal isokinetic leg presses at 30degrees/s for each of the following patellar taping conditions: no tape (control), no glide (placebo), medial and lateral glide (experimental). The medial and placebo procedures significantly (P<0.01) reduced perceived pain (70-80%) in PFPS subjects. Although patellar taping did not influence leg press force (P>0.05), it increased the VMO activity and decreased the VL activity in PFPS subjects but had the opposite effect in healthy subjects. The findings suggest that taping the patella medially can contribute positively to PFPS rehabilitation. Because the medial glide and placebo taping conditions had similar effects, it is proposed that the benefits of patellar taping are not due to a change in patellar position but rather due to enhanced Support of the patellofemoral ligaments and/or pain modulation via cutaneous stimulation. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.