ABSTRACT
The use of taping to modify pain and muscle activity has become common practice among musculoskeletal physiotherapists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the repeatability of two variables, skin displacement and pressure, produced by a standardized taping procedure designed to inhibit the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle in patellofemoral pain. Measurements were recorded in 10 healthy volunteers. The effects of the taping procedure were assessed on the two lower limbs of each individual, and on measurements taken on the same limb in five subjects on two different days. On two-way analysis of variance no significant variable or interaction effect (P<0.05) was found. The coefficient (limit) of repeatability demonstrated that 95% of the differences measured for skin displacement and pressure were less than 6% and 94% of their respective means. The absolute pressures found were without exception very small and not repeatable. The results demonstrated that the VL "inhibitory" taping procedure used produced a reproducible effect for skin displacement. The validity of this taping technique is discussed.
Subject(s)
Bandages , Knee Joint , Movement/physiology , Muscle, Skeletal/physiology , Skin Physiological Phenomena , Adult , Analysis of Variance , Female , Humans , Male , Reproducibility of Results , Transducers, PressureABSTRACT
A survey of 50 general practitioners and 50 practice nurses reviewed current practice in relation to intramuscular injections in the deltoid region of adults. The great majority of practitioners used the site for the intramuscular injection of vaccines and a wide range of other medications. The injection techniques employed by the two groups were similar. The great majority of respondents used either the middle one third or the upper half of the muscle. A significant minority of both groups used inappropriate depths of injection. Awareness of the structures which are at risk from injections in the region was poor in both groups. There is an urgent need to establish reliable protocols for the administration of safe, effective intramuscular injections at the deltoid site and to train practitioners in their use.
