Although patellar taping seemed to reduce pain and improve SEBT performance of participants with PFPS, the exact mechanisms of these phenomena cannot be explained in this study. Further research is warranted to investigate the effect of patellar taping on neuromuscular control during dynamic postural control.

The aim of the study was to investigate differences in frontal plane knee kinetics, onset timing and duration of the gluteus medius (GMed), adductor longus (AL), and vastus medialis oblique (VMO) during stair ambulation between those with and without patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Twenty PFPS patients and twenty healthy participants completed stair ambulation while surface electromyography (EMG), video, and ground reaction forces were collected. PFPS patients had a higher peak internal knee abduction moment during stair ascent, and a higher internal knee abduction impulse for both ascent and descent. During stair ascent, PFPS patients displayed earlier onset of the AL and later onset of GMed, compared to the healthy individuals. Also, PFPS patients had longer activation duration of the AL and shorter activation durations of the VMO and GMed during stair ascent. During stair descent, PFPS patients displayed delayed GMed onset and shorter activation duration of GMed and VMO. The results of the study suggest that altered neuromuscular control of the medial thigh musculature may be an important contributor to PFPS.

Abstract:The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of highly cushioned shoes on running biomechanics. Sixteen recreational runners (8 males, 8 females) participated and ran at a self-selected pace across the force platform in the research laboratory wearing either the standard or highly cushioned shoes, in randomized order. Impact peak (IP), loading rate to IP (LR), active peak (AP), contact time (CT), strike index (SI), running velocity, and knee and ankle kinematics at initial contact (IC) and AP were recorded during the running trials. Overall, there was no effect of footwear on IP, LR, AP, CT and velocity (p>.05) with small effect sizes (ES<0.2). The highly cushioned shoes resulted in a more anterior foot strike pattern, based on the slightly higher SI (p=.03, ES=0.5), although the runners demonstrated a rearfoot strike pattern regardless of shoe condition. No kinematic differences were observed at IC or AP, across shoe conditions (p>.05). Our results indicate that the highly cushioned shoes did not show immediate changes in running biomechanics.

No abstract

There were alterations in muscle activity during SEBT performance, suggesting that overactivity of AL relative to GMED is a unique neural recruitment pattern in those with PFP. However, hip and knee joint kinematics did not seem to contribute to deficits in the anterior reach distance, suggesting a need for continued assessment of these deficiencies.