Study Design: Pre- and postintervention repeated measures design.

Objective:To determine the effects of patellar taping on knee kinetics, kinematics, and vastus lateralis muscle activity during stair ambulation in individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP).

Background: Patellar taping is a common treatment technique for individuals with PFP. Specific data on whether patellar taping improves gait variables, however, are limited.

Methods and Measures: Ten subjects with a diagnosis of PFP were studied (5 men, 5 women). The subjects’ mean age, height, and mass were 36.5 ± 11.1 years, 173.1 ± 10.3 cm, and 70.9 ± 13.3 kg, respectively. Lower extremity kinematics, ground reaction forces, and vastus lateralis EMG were obtained simultaneously while subjects ascended and descended stairs, under taped and untaped conditions. Knee moments were calculated using inverse dynamics equations. Four 2 ×2 (tape condition x stair condition) ANOVAs for repeated measures were generated for cadence and average stance phase knee extensor moment, knee flexion angle, and EMG.

Results: On the average, a 92.6% reduction in pain was observed following the application of tape. Increases in cadence, knee flexion angles, and knee extensor moments were observed under the taped condition for both stair ascent and descent; however, no difference in average vastus lateralis EMG was found.

Conclusions: Although patellar taping resulted in decreased pain and increased knee extensor moments, knee flexion angles, and cadence during stair ambulation, the vastus lateralis EMG activity level did not change with taping. Based on data from the vastus lateralis, care must be taken if improved gait parameters indicate change in muscle recruitment.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2002; 32(1):3–10.

Key Words: biomechanics, gait, patella, physical therapy

This paper is a comprehensive review of the effect of bandaging, bracing, and neoprene sleeves on knee proprioception following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction with a focus on studies that have measured joint position sense and threshold to detection of passive knee motion. Disruption of the ACL does not appear to alter joint position sense soon after injury, although there is evidence that in some subjects deterioration may occur over time. An ACL tear creates a deficit in the threshold to detection of passive knee motion soon after injury and in those with chronic tears. The magnitude of worsening is less then 1.0° of movement in flexion-extension and of questionable concern from a clinical and functional perspective. Application of a functional brace or neoprene sleeve to the ACL-deficient limb does not improve the threshold to detection of passive knee motion; however, application of an elastic bandage to a knee with an ACL tear improves joint position sense. Reconstruction of a torn ACL is associated with a deficit in the threshold to detection of passive knee motion, and during the first year of healing the use of a neoprene sleeve provides improvement. Two years following ACL reconstruction there is no deficit in the threshold to detection of passive knee motion and the use of a brace has no effect on this outcome.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2002; 32(1):11–15.

Key Words: anterior cruciate ligament, bracing, proprioception