What are the benefits of Kinesio taping this time?
If you've ever been an athlete, you've probably experienced taping.
What are the effects of taping? You may have wondered, "What are the effects of taping?" Various studies have come to different conclusions.
I have also applied taping in the course of my work, but I have my doubts about its effectiveness.
Here is one study that will help you answer these questions, so if you have similar problems, please refer to it.
Contents of the study
The purpose of this study was to determine if the direction of application of kinesiology tape affects the activation of the quadriceps femoris muscle.
The taping technique was compared to an outcome measure selected to assess quadriceps activation.
Outcome measures included EMG, isokinetic strength, and functional hop and jump performance.A total of 15 asymptomatic participants (10 females and 5 males) were included in the study.
The mean age was 23.3 years and KinesioⓇ Tex GoldTM was applied to the predominant lower extremity of each participant using the Y-strip technique.
Two taping conditions (proximal to distal and distal to proximal) were applied to the quadriceps muscle.
Participants and testers were not informed of any differences in tape conditions.
Pre-test and post-test measurements included electromyographic output during isokinetic testing of quadriceps torque at 60°s -1 and 120°s -1, one-legged triple hops for distance, and vertical jumps.
The results did not reveal any evidence of any effect on muscle torque due to the direction of taping adaptation.
Dolphin M, Brooks G, Calancie B, Rufa A. Does the Direction of Kinesiology Tape Application Influence Muscle Activation in Asymptomatic Individuals? Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2021;16(1):135-144. Published 2021 Feb 1.
Discussion and Summary
Even though the conclusions may not be complete due to the number of subjects, the results show that there was no significant difference in the direction of taping application.
To begin with, Kinesio taping itself is applied to the running of the muscles, and the process of application begins and ends in accordance with the contraction of the muscles.This study was about how it is applied in that direction. It was about that, and the results are as mentioned above.
In another study, there was a comparative study of performance evaluation between Kinesio taping and placebo taping, and in this study, there was no significant difference from placebo.
However, some studies have shown an effect of kinesio taping on muscle performance, so it may not be completely ineffective.
As you can see, some studies are positive about the effects of kinesio taping, while others show no difference from comparisons, so it's hard to know how effective it is.
Even though there are such stories, there are still a certain number of Kinesio taping users in the sports field, so it seems that medical providers need to use it after considering it.
To be honest, I think that taping is like a kind of talisman.
Because if you want to fix the range of motion of the joint, taping is not enough, and if you want to maintain muscle performance, taping is not enough because it can peel off.
But I still want to put it on! but if it is a trauma that requires some kind of support, I suggest rest in the first place.
If we can learn anything from this study, it is that there may be no way (stretching or direction) to apply taping! If we can learn anything from this study, it's that there may be no way (stretch or direction) to apply taping!
