Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey | [b] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kocaeli Derince Training and Research Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey | [c] Department of Anatomy, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey | [d] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Ali Yavuz Karahan, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey. Tel.: +90 5386921934; E-mail:ayk222@hotmail.com
Note: [1] Abstract of this study has already been presented in 25th National Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Congress, 22-25 April 2015, Antalya, Turkey.
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The effect of the application of kinesiotape on muscle strength is still
uncertain. This trial represents the first randomized-controlled trial to
investigate the immediate and delayed effects of kinesiotape application on
triceps muscle strength in healthy subjects. METHOD: The trial was randomized and placebo-controlled. Young adult (18-35 years
of age), healthy men were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a
kinesiotape group or a sham tape for the control group. ``Y''-shaped
kinesiotape was applied to the triceps muscle in the sitting position.
``I''-shaped tape was used for the control group, and the sham tape was
placed horizontally on the triceps muscle. A hand-held digital dynamometer
was used to evaluate the peak force of elbow extension and flexion.
Assessments were carried out before taping, an hour after taping, and after
the first week. RESULTS: The mean ages of the participants in the kinesiotape and control groups were
26.2 ± 4.8 and 26.7 ± 4.8, respectively. The mean values of the peak
force before taping, after the first hour, and after first week were
statistically analyzed using one-way repeated measures. No statistical
significance was found for in-group analysis of either the kinesiotape group
or the control group (p> 0.05). In addition, there was no statistical
significance in the between-group assessments (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: The triceps muscle is appropriate for studying the effects of kinesiotape on
muscle strength because elbow extension is provided by only one
fusiform-shaped muscle. The results of this study did not show any
significant changes in immediate or delayed muscle strength according to the
initial measurements and between-group assessments.
