Patellar alignment/tracking alteration: Effect on force output and perceived pain

This investigation sought to gather data about two different methods of altering patellar alignment in patients with anterior knee pain (patellofemoral pain syndrome). Concentric and eccentric quadriceps torque at 60 deg/sec was measured during three different conditions in 30 subjects with a history of anterior knee pain. The Palumbo Brace and the McConnell Taping Technique were compared to an “untreated” condition. The taping method appeared to produce significantly higher concentric and eccentric torque output, and the brace significantly higher eccentric output, as compared to the control condition. Perceived pain was also formally analyzed, and although both the brace and the tape corresponded to significantly lower values of perceived pain, the pain reports were unrelated to the observed torque changes. Therefore, subjects did not merely demonstrate increased torque output due to a perception of less pain.