Comparative Dynamic Balance, Pain and Neuromuscular Responses Among Therapeutic Patellofemoral Taping Techniques
Open Access
- Author:
- Poole, Katherine L
- Area of Honors:
- Kinesiology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Dr. John Miller, Thesis Supervisor
Sayers John Miller III, Thesis Supervisor - Keywords:
- patellofemoral dysfunction
patellofemoral taping
kinesiotape
McConnell tape
pain
dynamic postural control
neuromuscular activity - Abstract:
- COMPARATIVE DYNAMIC BALANCE, PAIN AND NEUROMUSCULAR RESPONSES AMONG THERAPEUTIC PATELLOFEMORAL TAPING TECHNIQUES. Poole KL*, Vairo GL*, Miller SJ*, Bosha PJ†, Millard RL†, Aukerman DF†, Sebastianelli WJ†: *Athletic Training Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University Park PA; †Penn State Hershey Orthopaedics - State College, State College PA Objective: To compare dynamic balance, pain and neuromuscular responses in patients diagnosed with acute unilateral patellofemoral dysfunction (PFD) after undergoing therapeutic taping techniques. It was hypothesized that taping conditions would yield improved outcomes. Design and Settings: A retrospective cohort (2b evidence) conducted in a controlled setting. Knee taping condition was the independent variable. Dependent variables included single-leg balance reach distances as well as pain and quadriceps neuromuscular activity during the balance task. Patients underwent one bilateral baseline testing session and two unilateral taping (McConnell medial glide and NUCAP Medical Upper Knee Spider®) sessions. Forty-eight hours separated sessions. Subjects: Twenty (7 men and 13 women) patients (age = 21.2 ± 2.9 years, height = 1.69 ± 0.2m, mass = 68.11 ± 11.6kg, Tegner = 6.25 ± 1.3, Kujala = 78.9 ± 9.38). Patients with history of traumatic injury to either lower extremity were excluded. Measurements: Reach distances were normalized to leg-length (% LL). Pain was measured using a standard visual analog scale (VAS). Quadriceps neuromuscular activity was normalized to maximal volitional isometric contraction (%MVIC). One-tail paired t-tests were calculated to determine bilateral baseline statistically significant differences. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference post hoc analysis was calculated to determine statistically significant differences among knee conditions (baseline, McConnell and Spider®) for the involved leg. P ≤ 0.05 denoted statistical significance. Results: Data met assumptions for statistical analyses. Lesser baseline reach distances were recorded for the involved (72.14 ± 6.0 %LL) compared to uninvolved (74.14 ± 6.0 %LL) leg (P = 0.014). Patients displayed increased reach distances with the involved leg under McConnell (75.65 ± 7.3 %LL, P = 0.002) and Spider® (75.39 ± 6.5 %LL, P = 0.005) conditions compared to baseline (72.14 ± 6.0 %LL). Pain also decreased under McConnell (1.16 ± 1.2cm, P = 0.001) and Spider® (1.04 ± 1.03cm, P = 0.001) conditions compared to baseline (1.95 ± 1.4cm). Vastus medialis activation increased under the McConnell condition (17.63 ± 7.6 %MVIC) compared to baseline (14.68 ± 7.8 %MVIC, P = 0.015). Furthermore, there was a difference in vastus medialis activation between McConnell (17.63 ± 7.6 %MVIC) and Spider® (14.36 ± 8.2 %MVIC) condition (P = 0.026). No other comparisons were statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest McConnell and Spider® tape improve outcome measures in acute PFD patients. However, further research is warranted to investigate the efficacy of such interventions. Word Count: 398