The Effects of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Taping on Postural Control in Healthy Young Adults: A Pilot Crossover Study

Alex Martino Cinnera; Alessandro Antonio Princi; Enza Leone; Serena Marrano; Alessandra Pucello; Stefano Paolucci; Marco Iosa; Giovanni Morone

doi:10.3390/healthcare10050946

The Effects of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Taping on Postural Control in Healthy Young Adults: A Pilot Crossover Study

Healthcare (Basel). 2022 May 20;10(5):946. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10050946.

Authors

Alex Martino Cinnera¹, Alessandro Antonio Princi¹, Enza Leone^{2

3}, Serena Marrano¹, Alessandra Pucello¹, Stefano Paolucci¹, Marco Iosa⁴, Giovanni Morone⁵

Affiliations

¹ Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Health Care (IRCCS) Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina, 00179 Rome, Italy.
² School of Allied Health Professions, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK.
³ Centre for Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Technologies, Staffordshire University, Stoke on Trent ST4 2DE, UK.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
⁵ Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.

Abstract

Background: Postural control is a complex ability, also controlled by the somatosensory connection of the neck muscles with the vestibular nuclei. This circuit seems to be interested in maintaining head stabilization during movements. The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is the dominant source of the vestibular afferents as confirmed by neurophysiological acquisition. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the application of kinesio-tape on the SCM muscle can induce a perturbation of the standing postural control by altering the somatosensory system of the neck muscles.

Methods: Thirteen healthy participants (age: 24.46 ± 3.04 yrs; 9 female) were enrolled, and the four kinesio-tape (KT) conditions were performed in a random order: without KT application (Ctrl); right KT application (R-SCM); left KT application (L-SCM); and bilateral KT application (B-SCM). All conditions were performed three times with open eyes and closed eyes.

Results: There was a significant increase in the length of the centre of pressure (CoP), in the maximal oscillation, and in the anteroposterior root mean square between the three tape application conditions with respect to the Ctrl condition with open eyes. The same parameters were statistically different when the participants were blindfolded in the B-SCM condition with respect to the Ctrl condition. A statistical decrease in the difference in weight distribution between the two feet was observed in the B-SCM group with respect to the Ctrl group in both open and closed eyes conditions.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that KT on the SCM muscles may involve some space-time parameters of postural control. Bilateral KT improved the weight distribution between the feet but showed a parallel increase in anteroposterior oscillations and in the length of the CoP with respect to the Ctrl condition. The perturbation seems to be greater in the somatosensory system when it is working coupled with visual afferences during an upright position.

Keywords: bandage; equipment; kinesio-tape; postural control; posture; supplies; tape.

Grants and funding

This research has not received financial support from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. No financial support was provided for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.