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.