Influence of Kinesio Taping applied over biceps brachii on isokinetic elbow peak torque. A placebo controlled study in a population of young healthy subjects

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the effect of Kinesio Taping (KT) applied over the biceps brachii on maximal isokinetic elbow torque.

Design: This study followed a single-blinded, placebo controlled, repeated measures design.

Methods: Isokinetic eccentric and concentric elbow peak torques were evaluated without taping (NT), with KT or placebo taping (PT) in 20 healthy participants. Furthermore, all the participants were required to perform a proprioceptive task of elbow joint position sense (JPS) in the same experimental conditions.

Results: A significant effect of taping condition was found for concentric elbow peak torque (p=0.01). Post hoc analysis revealed a statistically significant concentric elbow peak torque improvement between NT and KT (p<0.05) but not between NT and PT. As regards eccentric elbow peak torque, we found a significant effect of taping condition (p<0.0001). Significant eccentric elbow peak torque differences were observed between NT and PT (p<0.01) and between KT and PT (p<0.001), while the increase observed from NT to KT conditions failed to reach significance at a post hoc analysis.

Conclusions: When applied over the biceps brachii, KT increases concentric elbow peak torque in a population of healthy participants, if compared with a PT.