SUMMARY INTRODUCTION: The mechanisms of pain reduction have not completely been established following patellar taping in subjects with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS); although it might be related to alteration in the kinetics of the patellofemoral joint.

METHODS:

Patellofemoral Joint Reaction Force (PFJRF) of eighteen subjects with PFPS and eighteen healthy subjects as controls were assessed by a motion-analysis system and one force plate. This procedure was performed on the affected knee of subjects with PFPS, before, during and finally after patellar taping during unilateral squatting. A similar procedure was also performed on the unaffected knees of both groups.

RESULTS:

The mean values of PFJRF prior to taping (2025N, SD 347N) were decreased significantly following a period of taping (1720N, SD 303N) (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the mean values of PFJRF among controls (1922N, SD 398N) and subjects with PFPS prior to taping (P>0.05) which might be due to small sample size in both groups and large variability observed in the study.

INTERPRETATION:

Decreased values of PFJRF may explain the mechanism of pain reduction following patellar taping in subjects with PFPS.

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