Effects of kinesio taping on hip abductor muscle strength and electromyography activity in athletes with chronic ankle instability: A randomized controlled trial.
Md Ghazi Ataullah, Gagan Kapoor, Ahmad H Alghadir and 1 others
PMID 34013356WHAT IT FOUND
Kinesio tape applied to the gluteus medius increased hip abductor strength by 10.27% and reduced muscle effort by 8.39% in athletes with chronic ankle instability.
This effect was significantly greater than placebo tape, which showed minimal changes.
Key findings
01The experimental group showed a significant increase in hip abductor strength (10.27%) and a significant reduction in EMG activity (8.39%) immediately after kinesio taping.
02The control group receiving placebo tape showed a smaller significant increase in strength (2.90%) and a non-significant reduction in EMG activity (0.8%).
03Between-group analysis confirmed a significant difference favoring kinesio tape for both strength changes and EMG activity changes compared to placebo.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study only measured immediate effects; it is unknown if the benefits last beyond the session. Participants were exclusively male collegiate athletes, so results may not apply to female athletes or other populations. Instability was defined by subjective self-report rather than objective functional tests. Surface EMG was used, which may have included signal contamination from the gluteus maximus. The sample size was small (34 participants).
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these benefits are long-lasting or that tape replaces active strengthening. The study only measured immediate effects after application, and the participants were specifically male collegiate athletes with chronic ankle instability.