Effect of the Level of Tension and the Extent of Coverage of Kinesio Tape on the Knee Extensor Torque in Healthy Young People

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 Student Research Committee, MSc Student in Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor of Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Professor in Biostatistics, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: One of the effects attributed to Kinesio tape is increasing muscle strength. Several studies have been conducted in this area providing conflicting results. Perhaps one of the reasons for the variety of results is the difference in using Kinesio tape. Due to the fact that the effects of Kinesio tape depend on factors such as level of tension and the amount of its coverage, we aimed to investigate the effect of these factors on the immediate increase of muscle strength.
Materials and Methods: Participants of the study included 30 healthy non-athlete female randomly examined with nine different modes of Kinesio tape. The Kinesio tape was applied by three levels of tension (0, 30, and 60 percent) and also three different levels of contact on the Quadriceps muscle of the subdominant leg, and the extents of torque were measured prior to and after applying the type. The mean of the maximum extension of three extensor contractions was calculated before and after applying the Kinesio tape.
Result: Applying Kinesio tape increased the knee extensor torque (P<0.05). The net effect of the two factors of tension and coverage of Kinesio tape on the increase of muscle strength was not found to be statistically significant, but the interaction of tension and breadth of coverage does create a significant effect (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Although the Kinesio tape causes a slight increase in the Quadriceps muscle’s strength, changing the tension and extension of Kinesio tape stretch did not have an immediate impact on the increase of knee extensor torque.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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Volume 6, Issue 4
January and February 2018
Pages 123-131
  • Receive Date: 16 July 2016
  • Revise Date: 12 November 2016
  • Accept Date: 12 December 2016
  • First Publish Date: 22 December 2017