Michael J.Callaghan, James Selfe, Alec McHenry and Jacqueline A. Oldham
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of patellar taping of the proprioceptive status of patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). 32 subjects with PFPS were tested for Joint Position Sense (JPS) using a Biodex dynamometer. Outcomes measures were taken at an angular velocity of 2°/s with a start angle at 90° and target angles of 60° and 20°. Taping was applied in random order across the patella of each subject with each of the subjects acting as their own internal control. Results indicated initially that application of patellar tape did not enhance and in some cases worsened the JPS of the subjects however, when the subjects’ proprioceptive status was graded according to their closeness to the target angles taping enhanced nearly all values of those with ‘poor’ proprioception.
Patellar taping does not improve joint position sense but it in a subgroup of PFPS patients poor proprioception may exist and be helped by patellar taping.
Manual Therapy, 2008, 13(3), 192-199