Patellar taping does not affect the onset of activities of vastus medialis obliquus and vastus lateralis before and after muscle fatigue.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the immediate effect of patellar taping with a standard force on the onset of vastus medialis obliquus and vastus lateralis activities before and after muscle fatigue in able-bodied subjects.

DESIGN: This study tested 29 mature able-bodied subjects. The surface electromyographic onset time of their vastus medialis obliquus and vastus lateralis was measured after a posteroanterior perturbation at the knee in a single-legged standing position. The measurements were taken under three conditions in random order of true patellar taping, sham patellar taping, and no patellar taping. Afterward, subjects performed a knee-extension exercise until their quadriceps fatigued, and the above tests were repeated to test the effect of fatigue on the outcome.

RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference with patellar taping on the electromyographic onset time of the vastus medialis obliquus and vastus lateralis compared with the placebo-taping and no-taping conditions (P = 0.455). There was no statistically significant difference in onset of vastus medialis obliquus and vastus lateralis muscles before and after muscle fatigue (P = 0.304).

CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that patellar taping does not enhance the temporal activation of vastus medialis obliquus in both fatigue and nonfatigue conditions on able-bodied subjects.