Patellar Taping Does Not Affect the Onset of Activities of Vastus Medialis Obliquus and Vastus Lateralis Before and After Muscle Fatigue

Abstract

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. 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. 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). 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.