Vastus Lateralis and Vastus Medialis Obliquus Muscle Activity During the Application of Inhibition and Facilitation Taping Techniques

Objective: To evaluate the effect of inhibition and facilitation taping techniques on the activity of vastus lateralis and vastus medialis obliquus.

Design: Repeated-measures design.

Setting: Laboratory in an educational institution.

Subjects: Thirty healthy females aged between 18 and 23 years.

Intervention: Subjects were tested during the application of inhibition tape, facilitation tape and no tape to vastus lateralis in random order.

Main Outcome Measures: Electromyographic activity of vastus lateralis and vastus medialis obliquus during stair descent was recorded using bipolar surface electrodes.

Results: Electromyographic activity of vastus lateralis and vastus medialis obliquus during the application of inhibition tape or facilitation tape did not alter significantly compared with no tape condition.

Conclusions: Taping designed to inhibit or facilitate muscle activity via sensory stimulation does not affect vastus lateralis or vastus medialis obliquus activity in healthy subjects. Further investigation is required to find a means of muscle taping that could be recommended as an intervention for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.