Yeung Simon S, Yeung Ella W
From the Centre for Sports Training and Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2016 Jan;95(4):e2615. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002615.
Kinesio Tex tape (KT) is used to prevent and treat sports-related injuries and to enhance muscle performance. It has been proposed that the direction of taping may either facilitate or inhibit the muscle by having different effects on cutaneous receptors that modulate excitability of the motor neurons. This study had 2 goals. First, we wished to determine if KT application affects muscle performance and if the method of application facilitates or inhibits muscle performance. This was assessed by measuring isokinetic knee extension peak torque in the knee extensor. Second, we assessed neurological effects of taping on the excitability of the motor neurons by measuring the reflex latency and action potential by electromyography (EMG) in the patellar reflex. The study was a single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 28 healthy volunteers with no history of knee injuries. Participants received facilitative KT treatment, inhibitory KT treatment, or Hypafix taping of the knee extensor. There were significant differences in the peak torque between 3 treatments (F(2,54) = 4.873, P < 0.01). Post hoc analysis revealed that facilitative KT treatment resulted in higher knee extensor peak torque performance than inhibitory KT treatment (P = 0.036, effect size 0.26). There were, however, no significant differences in the reflex latency (F(2,54) = 2.84, P = 0.067) nor in the EMG values (F(2,54) = 0.18, P = 0.837) in the patellar reflex between the 3 taping applications. The findings suggest that the direction of KT application over the muscle has specific effects on muscle performance. Given the magnitude of effect is small, interpretation of clinical significance should be considered with caution. The underlying mechanism warrants further investigation.
肌内效贴布（KT）用于预防和治疗与运动相关的损伤，并提高肌肉性能。有人提出，贴布的方向可能通过对调节运动神经元兴奋性的皮肤感受器产生不同影响，从而促进或抑制肌肉。本研究有两个目标。首先，我们希望确定应用KT是否会影响肌肉性能，以及应用方法是促进还是抑制肌肉性能。这通过测量膝关节伸肌等速膝关节伸展峰值扭矩来评估。其次，我们通过测量髌反射中的反射潜伏期和肌电图（EMG）动作电位，评估贴布对运动神经元兴奋性的神经学影响。该研究是一项单盲、安慰剂对照的交叉试验，有28名无膝关节损伤史的健康志愿者参与。参与者接受促进性KT治疗、抑制性KT治疗或膝关节伸肌的Hypafix贴布。三种治疗之间的峰值扭矩存在显著差异（F(2,54) = 4.873，P < 0.01）。事后分析显示，促进性KT治疗导致膝关节伸肌峰值扭矩性能高于抑制性KT治疗（P = 0.036，效应大小0.26）。然而，三种贴布应用之间髌反射的反射潜伏期（F(2,54) = 2.84，P = 0.067）和EMG值（F(2,54) = 0.18，P = 0.837）均无显著差异。研究结果表明，在肌肉上应用KT的方向对肌肉性能有特定影响。鉴于效应大小较小，对临床意义的解释应谨慎考虑。其潜在机制值得进一步研究。
