TAPING THE PATELLA MEDIALLY - A NEW TREATMENT FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE-JOINT

Objective-To test the hypothesis that medial taping of the patella red uces the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee when the patellofemora l joint is affected. Design-Randomised, single blind, crossover trial of three different forms of taping of the knee joint. Each tape (media l, lateral, or neutral) was applied for four days, with three days of no treatment between tape positions. Subjects-14 patients with establi shed, symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee and both clinical and rad iographic evidence of patellofemoral compartment disease. Main outcome measures-Daily visual analogue scale ratings for pain; patients' rati ng of change with each treatment; and tape preference. Results-Medial taping of the patella was significantly better than the neutral or lat eral taping for pain scores, symptom change, and patient preference. T he medial tape resulted in a 25% reduction in knee pain. Conclusion-Pa tella taping is a simple, safe, cheap way of providing short term pain relief in patients with osteoarthritis of the patellofemoral joint.