Kinesio-Taping Application and Corticospinal Excitability at the Ankle Joint.

CONTEXT

Physiotherapists and athletic trainers often use Kinesio Taping (KT) to prevent and treat musculoskeletal injuries in athletes, yet evidence about its effects on neuromuscular performance is conflicting.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of a KT application directed at the ankle joint on measures of corticospinal excitability with transcranial magnetic stimulation.

DESIGN

Controlled laboratory study.

SETTING

Research laboratory.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Twelve healthy young women (age = 23.1 ± 1.9 years; range, 19-26 years).

INTERVENTION(S): Participants were tested under no-tape and KT conditions according to a random sequence order. The KT was applied to the skin overlying the dorsiflexor and plantar-flexor muscles of the ankle.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We assessed changes in the amplitude of motor-evoked potentials elicited at rest and during movement and changes in the silent period and background muscle activity during movement.

RESULTS

Taping conditions had no effect on motor-evoked potential amplitude at rest or during movement or on the silent-period duration and background muscle activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results concur with other recent reports, showing KT applications have little influence at the neuromuscular level. Alterations in sensory feedback ascribed to elastic taping are likely insufficient to modulate corticospinal excitability in a functionally meaningful manner.