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