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The use of Kinesio Taping® in the management of traumatic patella dislocation. A case study

INTRODUCTION Kinesio Taping is a technique utilizing an elastic tape developed in Japan and introduced into the United States in the 1990s. The tape exhibits its effect through the activation of neurological and circulatory systems with movement. Kinesio Tape is used in a variety of setting for edema reduction, pain management, inhibition and facilitation of motor activity. The elastic tape is capable of stretching up to 130 140% of its resting static length to ensure free range of motion which will not allow a stretch of the muscles themselves. Kinesio Tape can be worn continuously 3 4 days before a new application is required. The basic principle of therapeutic taping for weakened muscle contractions is to wrap the tape around the affected muscle from origin to insertion. The muscle is placed on gentle functional stretch with application of the tape at 10% of its resting static length. (Kinesio Taping Association, 2004). Athletes with patellar subluxation or dislocation usually describe a buckling from non contact mechanisms of injury. The patella usually will reduce when the knee is extended. Physical examination reveals motion limited by pain and effusion. The patient has tenderness along the medial patella or medial femoral condyle. Because acute patellar instability may be the terminal event in severe valgus injuries to the knee, integrity of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) must be evaluated. Plain radiographs may reveal abnormal patellar tilt or lateral displacement on tangential view and bone fragments within the joint or medial to the patellar in the retinaculum (Ivey, 1994). In athletes with first time instability episodes, no extremity malalignment or previous anterior knee pain and normal radiographs, the knee may be treated with immobilization for comfort with early range of motion exercises and physical therapy (Ivey, 1994). Traumatic patella dislocation results in loss of range of motion, swelling, pain and decreased quadriceps muscle contraction (Ivey, 1994). Elastic tape, which can be worn continuously for 3 4 days per application, may provide proprioceptive stimulation resulting in a facilitation effect of cutaneous mechanoreceptors for motor unit recruitment that has also been noted with athletic taping (Alt, Lohrer, and Gollhorer, 1999; Lohrer, 1999; Simoeau, 1997) applied for a longer therapeutic period. Pain has also been linked to a decrease in quadriceps motor activity (Murray and Frost, 1998; O’Reilly, Jones, Muir, and Doherty, 1998). The case report will demonstrate the use of elastic Kinesio Tape for control of pain, restriction of quadriceps muscle contraction and altered sense of weight bearing stability in patella dislocation rehabilitation.