Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1 Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2 Biomechanics Laboratory, Rehabilitation Research Center and Department of Basic Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
3 Department of Physiotherapy and Iranian Center of Excellence in Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background: Kinesio tape (KT) is a widely used therapeutic intervention believed to prevent injury; however, the available evidence on its effectiveness is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of KT on the viscoelastic properties of the lower limb, specifically stiffness and damping, before and after a fatigue protocol.
Methods: The research design employed in this study was a pre- and post-design, in which fifty healthy participants underwent countermovement jumps before and after a fatigue protocol. In both fatiguing conditions, the body’s viscoelastic behavior was assessed in two conditions: with and without KT applied to the gastrocnemius muscle.
Results: The results indicated a significant decrease in lower limb damping among men following fatigue in the condition without tape. In contrast, the condition with tape showed no significant change in damping, suggesting that KT can prevent the significant decrease in lower limb damping caused by fatigue.
Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the positive impact of KT in preserving the shock absorption capacity after fatigue. The observed benefits may be attributed to the potential facilitation of muscular activity and muscle contraction force by KT. As muscles serve as primary shock absorbers in the body, the application of KT may enhance their ability to effectively dampen sudden impact forces following exhaustion, thus reducing the risk of impact-related injuries. These findings support the utilization of KT as a preventive intervention.
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