METHODS To identify relevant studies PUBMED, AMED, CINAHL, PEDRO and SPORTDiscus databases were searched up to 9 August 2012, along with the following websites: the Osteopathic Research Web (www.osteopathic-research.com), OSTMED (www.ostmed-dr.com), Journal of American Osteopathic Association (www.jaoa.org/), Chiropractic & Manual Therapies (www.chiromt.com) and Open Grey (www.opengrey.eu). To focus the results, all studies

where kinesio tape was not the primary focus were removed, as were treatments for non-musculoskeletal conditions such as cerebral palsy and breast cancer. Observational studies on healthy individuals were also discarded. Only controlled trials were selected for review. Searching the selected papers by

hand identified ten additional papers, one of which met all the relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria (Figure 3). Therefore, ten studies were identified with a total of 386 participants, investigating the effect of kinesio tape on patellofemoral pain (n=3), shoulder impingement (n=3), whiplash associated disorder (n=1), chronic lower back pain (n=2) and plantar fasciitis (n=1).

Searching electronic databases (n=207) Duplicates removed (n=132) Abstracts retrieved (n=75) Excluded (n=36) Papers reviewed (n=39) Excluded (n=30) Papers selected (n=9) Reference list searches (n=10) Excluded (n=9) Additional papers (n=1)

Papers selected for review (n=10)

Figure 3: Flowchart showing literature selection process.

TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF RESULTS FROM SELECTED PAPERS INVESTIGATING PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME (PFPS) Study

Akbas et al., 2011 (8)

Participants n=31

Outcomes measured

1. Pain 2. Soft tissue flexibility

3. Patellar positioning

Experimental group 1. KT to facilitate

quadriceps, ilio-tibial band (ITB) and hamstrings 2. Strengthening exercises 3. Soft tissue massage (n=16)

Aytar et al., 2011 (9)

n=22 1. Pain

2. Muscle strength 3. Proprioception 4. Balance

Chen et al., 2008 (10)

n=25

1. Ground force reaction (GRF) 2. Muscle firing

KT to quadriceps and around patella (n=12)

Control group

1. Strengthening exercises 2. Soft tissue massage (n=15)

Summary of results

n Pain, flexibility improved in both groups by end of trial

n Flexibility of soft tissues (hamstrings and ITB) occurred faster and greater in KT group

n Neither group saw positive change in patellar position

Identical taping but with non-flexible sticking plaster (n=10)

n Strength improved in both groups (60° = both, 180° = KT only)

n Balance improved in both groups (static = both, dynamic = KT only)

n No significant changes in pain or proprioception in either group

KT to facilitate vastus medialis and inhibit vastus lateralis – PFPS sufferers (n=15)

Identical taping in healthy individuals (n=10)

n No positive effect seen in healthy individuals

n GRF reduced in descending stairs in KT group

n Timing of activation of vastus medialis improved in KT group

26 sportEX dynamics 2012;34(October):24-30