Application of kinesiology taping to equine abdominal musculature in a tension frame for muscle facilitation increases longitudinal activity at the trot.

BACKGROUND

Kinesiology taping (KT) has been used on human subjects for many years. More recently, KT has been used in sport horses. The physiological mechanisms involved remain unclear and its benefits are controversial.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of application of kinesiology taping to abdominal muscles on locomotor parameters before and after lungeing exercise in horses.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-over study.

METHODS

Eleven horses were tested twice, once with an application of KT without tension on abdominal muscles (condition 1) and once with a facilitation application of KT on abdominal muscles (condition 2). A triaxial accelerometric device, located in the trunk (Equimetrix system ), was used at walk and trot in hand on a straight line before (30 min after the KT application) and after a lungeing session. Locomotor parameters were calculated, including stride frequency, regularity and symmetry, dorsoventral displacement and dorsoventral, mediolateral and longitudinal activities.

RESULTS

At trot, the longitudinal activity was significantly higher for condition 2 than for condition 1, before (7.6 ± 1.8 W/kg vs. 5.4 ± 2.2 W/kg, P = .02) and after (7.3 ± 1.3 W/kg vs. 6.1 ± 1.7 W/kg, P = .005) the lungeing session.

MAIN LIMITATIONS

The speed was not measured. The recording conditions and the experimenter, unaware of conditions, were the same for all horses to limit variations.

CONCLUSIONS

Kinesiology taping on abdominal muscles immediately increased longitudinal activity at trot in hand and this benefit was still present after a lungeing session. Longitudinal activity is a sought-after quality; thus, this method could be used as a way to enhance a training program. Future investigations are needed to confirm this result in horses being ridden.