PURPOSE: To control the movement of the kneecap so that it slides straight up and down. The tape should reduce pain immediately and is a good indicator of whether the patient will benefit from a patella stabilising bandage.
TAPING: Keep the knee slightly bent during tape application. First apply 2 anchors A+B. 1 above and 1 below the knee. These should be open at the back. Next, place a strip of tape C over the lower outer half of the kneecap so that half of the tape goes over the kneecap. The tape is flush with the edge of the kneecap and thus runs at an angle. It lifts and pushes the kneecap slightly inwards. Apply the second strip of tape D over the upper outer half of the kneecap so that half of the tape goes over the kneecap and runs diagonally down over the first strip of tape. Finally, finish with another strip of tape on top of the ‘anchor’ A and B.
