The Effect of Patellar Medial Glide Taping and Vastus Medialis Oblique Taping on Vastus Medialis Oblique and Vastus Lateralis Activity During Wall Squat

Background: A disrupted activation balance or temporal control between the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles can cause excessive patellar lateral gliding, leading to patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Selective VMO strengthening exercises are recommended for patients with PFPS. Kinesio taping (KT), developed using elastic tape considering the movement of muscles and joints, has been recommended as a treatment for PFPS due to its effects, such as normalizing muscle tension, enhancing joint and muscle sensory input, and improving blood circulation. KT can induce both facilitation and inhibition effects on muscles, depending on the application direction and tension. Conflicting findings regarding effectiveness suggest the need for more studies on taping techniques to selectively strengthen the VMO. Objects: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of patellar medial glide taping (PMGT), vastus medialis oblique facilitatory taping (VMOFT), and combined taping (CT) during wall squats on the muscle activation of the VMO and VL, and to compare the ratio of VMO vs. VL (VMO/VL). Methods: Seventeen healthy adult females participated in this study. During the wall squat using each taping technique, the muscle activity of the VMO and VL, and the VMO/VL ratio, were measured through electromyography. Results: The results showed significant difference in the VMO/VL ratio with PMGT and CT (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the activation of the VMO during the wall squat with PMGT and VMOFT (p > 0.05). Also, there were no significant differences in VL activation across all taping techniques (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate, that the CT technique was more effective in activating the VMO compared to other taping techniques. These findings support the use of a technique combining PMGT and VMOFT to selectively activate the VMO.