Does kinesiotape application to thigh muscles affect muscle strength, proprioception and jumping on the following days?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of KinesioTape (KT) application to quadriceps and hamstring muscle on healthy subjects. Range of motion, muscle strength of the lower limbs, jumping distances and heights, and proprioception were evaluated.
Material and Method. 20 subjects were enrolled in this study. Subject were older than 18 years of age and none of the subjects have a known prior lower extremity injuries. Measurements were done without KT application, immediately after KT application, 24 hours after the KT application and 5 days after the KT application. Isokinetic testing results, proprioceptive measurement results, balance testing results, jumping results and range of motion results were evaluated.
Results. In this study 5 days after the KT application results’ of initial peak torque and total work done by flexors were statistically significantly better than measurements without KT application, immediately after KT application and 24 hours after the KT application results. Active and passive flexion range of motion results also have shown improvements. There were no differences between jumping height, jumping distance, balance and proprioceptive measurements.
Conclusions. KT application in different techniques can have positive or negative effects on muscle performance. According to current literature and result of our study those affects are negligible.

Key words:

KinesioTape, isokinetic dynamometer, jumping tests, proprioception, range of motion

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