Background Patellar Taping

Background Patellar taping is a common treatment modality for physical therapists managing patellofemoral pain. However, the mechanisms of action remain unclear, with much debate as to whether its efficacy is due to a change in patellar alignment or an alteration in sensory input.

Article Regarding Additional Benefits of Patellar Taping

Great article regarding additional benefits of tape.  Worn currently by Olympic Athletes, we provide kinesiotaping here in our fairfax office for a variety of neuromusculoskeletal conditions.

Objective the purpose of this study was to investigate the sensory input hypothesis using functional magnetic resonance imaging when taping was applied to the knee joint during a proprioception task.

Design this was an observational study with patellar taping intervention.

Methods Eight male volunteers who were healthy and right-leg dominant participated in a motor block design study. Each participant performed 2 right knee extension repetitive movement tasks: one simple and one proprioceptive. These tasks were performed with and without patellar taping and were auditorally paced for 400 seconds at 72 beats/min (1.2 Hz).

Results from the Study of Patellar Taping

Results The proprioception task without patellar taping caused a positive blood oxygenation level–dependant (BOLD) response bilaterally in the medial supplementary motor area, the cingulate motor area, the basal ganglion, and the thalamus and medial primary sensory motor cortex. For the proprioception task with patellar taping, there was a decreased BOLD response in these regions. In the lateral primary sensory cortex, there was a negative BOLD response with less activity for the proprioception task with taping.

Limitations This study may have been limited by the small sample size, a possible learning effect due to a nonrandom order of tasks, and use of a single-joint knee extension task.

Conclusions This study demonstrated that patellar taping modulates brain activity in several areas of the brain during a proprioception knee movement task.

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Dr. Joshua Brooks is a graduate of New York Chiropractic College, where he was an honors student throughout his career and the recipient of the Distinguished Service and Alumni Service awards.  He also holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Health and Exercise Science from Syracuse University with a concentration in Pre-Medicine and Nutrition.  While at Syracuse, Dr. Brooks was a non-scholarship athlete on the basketball team for three years, including the 2003 National Championship season.  He is currently a member of the American Chiropractic Association Sports Council and manages a First Aid/CPR/AED Training Center through the American Safety and Health Institute.  Dr. Brooks is experienced in treating a variety of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, with a particular interest in sports related injuries.