• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2016

Purpose: Muscle imbalance around the knee region, especially quadriceps imbalance, is considered one of the main contributing factors to the development and progression of knee dysfunction based on the changes observed via electromyography (EMG). This study aimed to investigate the effect of vastus lateralis (VL) inhibition taping using non-elastic tape on the EMG activity of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and VL during isometric knee extension. Method: Thirty-three healthy young adults (11 males and 22 females) were recruited. With and without VL inhibition taping, the participants performed isometric knee extension in the sitting position for a total of 7 seconds. Result: VMO/VL EMG ratio significantly increased after VL inhibition taping (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that VL inhibition taping may contribute to VL inhibition and may help improve VMO/VL ratio in young adults. We expect VL inhibition taping to be useful in individuals with greater VL than VMO activity

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.231-241
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• 2023

Purpose: Weakness of the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO), or the imbalance between VMO and vastus lateralis muscle (VL) activity, is one of the most important factors in knee joint problems. Rigid taping techniques, such as patellar inhibition taping and VL inhibition taping, are frequently used in clinical practice to treat knee joint problems. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effect of three different types of taping (patellar inhibition taping (PIT), distal VL inhibition taping (DVLIT), and proximal VL inhibition taping (PVLIT)) on electromyography (EMG) activity of VMO, VL, and VMO:VL ratio during walking. Methods: Thirty-eight normal healthy subjects (38 males; mean age = 31.00 years) voluntarily participated in this study. EMG was applied to investigate muscle activation during walking. Repeated measures of ANOVA and one-way ANOVA compared the three different conditions (PIT, DVLIT, and PVLIT) for each variable. Results: VMO and VL activation were significantly increased after PTIT application, and VMO and VL activation were significantly decreased after DVLIT and PVLIT application. The VMO:VL ratio increased after the three types of taping application, but there were no significant differences among the three types of taping. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, PTIT is more effective than DVLIT and PVLIT in increasing the muscle activation of the VMO and VL during walking. Also, DVLIT is more effective for increasing the VMO:VL ratio and has beneficial effects on the imbalance between VMO and VL activity.