The effects of two therapeutic patellofemoral taping techniques on strength, endurance, and pain responses.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of taping techniques on clinical measures in patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) patients.

DESIGN

Crossover experimental design.

SETTING

Controlled laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty physically active PFPS patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Isokinetic strength and endurance, and perceived pain.

RESULTS

Bilateral baseline differences existed for strength (involved = 1.8 ± 0.5 Nm/kg; uninvolved = 2.1 ± 0.5 Nm/kg; p = 0.001) and endurance (involved = 35.6 ± 14.0 J/kg; uninvolved = 40.2 ± 12.9 J/kg; p = 0.013). Strength (McConnell = 2.1 ± 0.6 Nm/kg, 95% SCI = (1.1, 4.2); Spider(®) = 2.1 ± 0.5 Nm/kg, 95% SCI = (0.9, 4.0)) and endurance (McConnell = 42.9 ± 13.8 J/kg, 95% SCI = (2.9, 11.6); Spider(®) = 42.5 ± 11.0 J/kg, 95% SCI = (2.6, -11.3)) increased when taped compared to baseline. Pain decreased during strength (baseline = 3.0 ± 2.2 cm; McConnell = 1.9 ± 1.7 cm, 95% SCI = (-1.8, -0.4); Spider(®) = 1.6 ± 2.0 cm, 95% SCI = (-2.0, -0.5)) and endurance (baseline = 2.5 ± 2.0 cm; McConnell = 1.5 ± 1.8 cm, 95% SCI = (-1.6, -0.4); Spider(®) = 1.1 ± 0.8 cm, 95% SCI = (-1.7, -0.5)) measurements when taped. Differences between taping techniques were insignificant.

CONCLUSIONS

Taping improved clinical measures in PFPS patients. No differences existed between Spider(®) and McConnell techniques.