Objective: To evaluate the effect of inhibition and facilitation taping techniques on the activity of vastus lateralis and vastus medialis obliquus.
Design: Repeated-measures design.
Setting: Laboratory in an educational institution.
Subjects: Thirty healthy females aged between 18 and 23 years.
Intervention: Subjects were tested during the application of inhibition tape, facilitation tape and no tape to vastus lateralis in random order.
Main outcome measures: Electromyographic activity of vastus lateralis and vastus medialis obliquus during stair descent was recorded using bipolar surface electrodes.
Results: Electromyographic activity of vastus lateralis and vastus medialis obliquus during the application of inhibition tape or facilitation tape did not alter significantly compared with no tape condition.
Conclusions: Taping designed to inhibit or facilitate muscle activity via sensory stimulation does not affect vastus lateralis or vastus medialis obliquus activity in healthy subjects. Further investigation is required to find a means of muscle taping that could be recommended as an intervention for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
1 Almeida S, Williams KM, Shaffer RA, Brodine SK. Epidemiological patterns of musculoskeletal injuries and physical training. Med Sci Sports Exerc1999; 31: 1176-1182.
2.
2 Crossley K, Bennell K, McConnell J. Patellofemoral joint. In: Kolt GS, Snyder-Mackler L eds. Physical therapies in sport and exercise. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2003: 399-418.
3.
3 McConnell J. Management of patellofemoral problems. Manual Ther1996; 1: 60-66.
4.
4 Insall J. Current concepts review: patellar pain. J Bone Joint Surg1982; 64A: 147-152.
5.
5 Karst GM, Jewett PD. Electromyographic analysis of exercises proposed for differential activation of medial and lateral quadriceps femoris muscle components. Phys Ther1993; 73: 286-299.
6.
6 Souza DR, Gross MT. Comparison of vastus medialis oblique:vastus lateralis muscle integrated electromyographic ratios between healthy subjects and patients with patellofemoral pain. Phys Ther1991; 71: 310-316.
7.
7 Voight M, Weider D. Comparative reflex response times of the vastus medialis and the vastus lateralis in normal subjects and subjects with extensor mechanism dysfunction. Am J Sport Med1991; 10: 131-137.
8.
8 Ng GYF, Cheng JMF. The effects of patellar taping on neuromuscular performance in subjects with anterior knee pain. Clin Rehabil2002; 16: 821-827.
9.
9 Grelsamer RP, McConnell J. The patella: a team approach. Frederich, MD: Aspen Publications, 1998.
10.
10 Tobin S, Robinson G. The effect of McConnell's vastus lateralis inhibition taping technique on vastus lateralis and vastus medialis oblique activity. Physiotherapy2000; 86: 173-183.
11.
11 Herrington L. The effect of McConnell's vastus lateralis inhibition taping technique on vastus lateralis and vastus medialis oblique activity. Letter to editor. Physiotherapy2000; 86: 390-390.
12.
12 Scott M. The effect of McConnell's vastus lateralis inhibition taping technique on vastus lateralis and vastus medialis oblique activity. Letter to editor. Physiotherapy2000; 86: 391-391.
13.
13 Arroll A, Ellis-Pegler F, Edwards A, Sutcliffe G. Patellofemoral pain syndrome. Am J Sport Med1997; 25: 207-212.
14.
14 Crossley K, Cowan SM, Bennell KL, McConnell J. Patellar taping: is clinical success supported by scientific evidence?Manual Ther2000; 5: 142-150.
15.
15 Gilleard W, McConnell J, Parsons D. The effect of patellar taping on the onset of vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis muscle activity in persons with patellofemoral pain. Phys Ther1998; 78: 25-32.
16.
16 Cowan SM, Bennell KL, Hodges PW. The test-retest reliability of the onset of concentric and eccentric vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis electromyographic activity in a stair stepping task. Phys Ther Sport2000; 1: 129-136.
17.
17 Portney LG, Watkins MP. Foundations of clinical research: applications to practice, second edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Health, 2000.
18.
18 Soderberg GL, Knutson LM. A guide for use and interpretation of kinesiology electromyographic data. Phys Ther2000; 80: 485-498.
19.
19 Di Fabio RP. Reliability of computerised surface electromyography for determining the onset of muscle activity. Phys Ther1987; 67: 43-48.
20.
20 Hodges PW, Bui BH. A comparison of computerbased methods for the determination of onset of muscle contraction using electromyography. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol1996; 101: 511-519.
21.
21 International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology. Standards for reporting EMG data. J Electromyogr Kinesiol1997; 7:I-II.
23 Ackermann B, Adams R, Marshall E. The effect of scapula taping on electromyographic activity and musical performance in professional violinists. Aust J Physiother2002; 48: 197-204.
24.
24 Alexander CM, Styness S, Thomas A, Lewis J, Harrison PJ. Does tape facilitate or inhibit the lower fibres of trapezius?Manual Ther2003; 8: 37-41.
25.
25 Cools AM, Witvrouw EE, Danneels LA, Cambier DC. Does taping influence electromyographic muscle activity in the scapular rotators in healthy shoulders?Manual Ther2002; 7: 154-162.
26.
26 Morin GE, Tiberio D, Austin G. The effect of upper trapezius taping on electromyographic activity in the upper and middle trapezius region. J Sport Rehabil1997; 6: 309-318.
