LITERATURE REVIEW
TREATMENT OF DAMAGED TISSUE WHILST MAINTAINING FULL RANGE OF MOTION
Figure 1a: Muscle inhibition (biceps brachii).
tension in the tape. Application of KT to aid oedema
reduction is shown in Figure 2a. A single strip is cut into multiple tails placed over the oedema with 0–20% tension. The ‘head’ of the tape is placed towards the target lymph nodes. KT can also be used to increase
joint stability by placing it over the unstable joint with all the stretch removed (Figure 2b), making the tape behave more akin to traditional athletic strapping.
EFFECTS ON HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS The effect of kinesiology taping on
Figure 1b: Muscle facilitation (biceps brachii).
healthy individuals has been the subject of a number of observational studies, which have focused on a range of outcomes including muscle strength and motor nerve conduction. Where numerous trials have
looked at the same outcome, results are contradictory. In the case of grip strength, one study (2) found no positive effect from KT applied to the forearm, compared to sham and no taping, though another (3) found a clear improvement in grip strength, albeit without a control group.
Similar contradictions are found
in studies looking at effects on the quadriceps. Positive effects have been
seen on jump height (4) and motor unit recruitment (5), whereas another study (6) found the overall effects of KT mixed, with eccentric force improved but concentric force the same as control, and another (7) found no positive effect at all. Overall, studies involving healthy individuals found some positive effect on muscle strength, flexibility and motor nerve conduction suggesting that KT has some therapeutic value.
RESULTS
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Table 1 summarises the results for the use of KT in patellofemoral pain (PFPS). All three papers hypothesised that pain is caused by maltracking of the patella, following imbalance between vastus medialis and vastus lateralis, and patients were taped accordingly. Akbas et al. (8) found that KT in conjunction with strengthening exercises and soft tissue massage achieved faster improvements (significant at three weeks) in both pain and muscle flexibility when compared to exercise and massage alone, although final outcome levels at six weeks were similar in both groups. The two remaining studies looked
Figure 2a: Lymphatic correction.
Figure 2b: Mechanical support (acromioclavicular joint).
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at the effects of KT immediately after application. Aytar et al. (9) examined the effect on pain alongside balance, proprioception and muscle strength when compared to sham tape. Although there were no statistically significant differences in pain and proprioception after application, positive effects were seen on muscle strength and dynamic balance in the KT group. Finally, Chen et al. (10) investigated the effects on stair climbing and found ground force reaction reduced when descending and muscle firing improved in the symptomatic KT group. No positive results were seen in the asymptomatic group despite identical
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KINESIO TAPING ASSISTS
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