OBJECTIVE: To examine the immediate effects of patellar taping on pain and relative activity of vastus medialis obliquus to vastus lateralis in subjects with patellofemoral pain and patellofemoral joint malalignment. DESIGN: Pre- and post-treatment design, with order of testing determined randomly. SETTING: Outpatient physiotherapy department. SUBJECTS: Fifteen subjects with patellofemoral joint pain and malalignment. INTERVENTIONS: With and without patellar taping with a standard force of application. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain and surface EMG activity ratio of vastus medialis obliquus to vastus lateralis during single-legged semi-squat with 20% of extra body weight loading. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in anterior knee pain (p < 0.001) and vastus medialis obliquus to vastus lateralis activity ratio (p = 0.05) during single-legged standing after patellar taping. CONCLUSIONS: Patellar taping can reduce pain in people with patellofemoral pain syndrome and patellofemoral malalignment but it decreases the relative activity of vastus medialis obliquus to vastus lateralis. Such a decrease in relative activity of vastus medialis obliquus after taping implies that it may not be suitable to combine patellar taping with vastus medialis obliquus facilitative exercise training.

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