Comparison of the instant effects of kinesio and McConnell patellar taping on performance in patellofemoral pain syndrome

Purpose: To determine differences between the effects of kinesio and McConnell patellar taping in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) and age-matched healthy subjects. Material and method: Fifteen female patients who came to our clinic with the diagnosis of unilateral PFAS and 15 volunteered age-matched healthy females participated in our study. McConnell and Kinesto patellar positioning techniques were applied to both groups by the same physiotherapists. The order of the techniques was randomized. Taping side in the healthy subjects was randomized. Evaluations were repeated three times before taping and after each taping and the mean was used. Timed get up and go (TUG), 10 meter walking and ten stairs up-down tests were used for the evaluation. Results: McConnell taping reduced performance in the TUG test of the PFPS patients significantly (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found In the 10 meter walking and 10 stairs up-down tests (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in healthy subjects TUG test results after kinesio taping and McConnell taping (p>0.05). It was observed that kinesio taping increased the performance significantly in 10 meter walking test and 10 stairs up-down test. When we compared healthy subjects results with PFPS patients no statistically significant differences were found between performance alterations after kinesio and McConnell taping (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although positive effects of kinesiotaping on performance in healthy subjects was seen, no positive effect of taping was seen on performance in patients with PFPS.