Influence of Elastic Tape on Activation of the Quadriceps Muscle During Selected Resisted and Weight Bearing Exercises

This cross over design study will be used to determine the influence of elastic kinesiology tape on the speed and amplitude of quadriceps activation (anterior thigh) during selected resisted and weight bearing exercises.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy Subjects; Changes Based on Duration of Tape Application; Direction of Kinesio Tape Application
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Kinesio Tape

Detailed Description

Objective: This cross over design study will be used to determine the influence of elastic kinesiology tape on the speed and amplitude of quadriceps activation (anterior thigh) during selected resisted and weight bearing exercises.

Background: Compliant tape, such as KiniseoⓇ Tape (KT), is highly elastic and claimed by the manufacturer to mimic skin. It is commonly used by physical therapists and sports medicine practitioners to treat musculoskeletal conditions and to enhance physical performance. The creators of KT teach a variety of applications techniques to affect the underlying musculature. Current theory regarding elastic tape application suggests that if the tape is applied over a muscle from the proximal to distal attachments, it will facilitate the underlying muscle while applying the tape from distal to proximal will inhibit the musculature.1 While studies have investigated the effect of elastic tape on muscle activation, few studies to date have compared the direction of application on muscle activation.2-7

Methods and Measures: Healthy subjects between 18-35 years old will be recruited from the Upstate Medical University community via email and word of mouth. Potential participants will report to the Institute for Human Performance and will be asked to complete all documentation including informed consent and a health-screening questionnaire. If eligible, qualified participants will perform 2 functional jumping exercises (vertical jump and single-leg triple hop for distance) 8 and isokinetic knee flexion and extension at 60 degrees/sec and 120 degrees/sec using the Biodex System 3 Pro Dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY). The Biodex isokinetic machine has been shown to be a reliable and valid source of measuring peak torque, position and velocity.9 Surface electromyography (EMG) recordings will be collected from the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis during isokinetic testing. Testing will occur over four sessions. In the first session, baseline measurements and measurements immediately after KT application will be collected. In the second session, the participant will be retested after wearing the KT for up to two days (48 hours). This process will be repeated one week later during sessions three and four with KT applied in the opposite direction of the initial testing condition. KT application direction and the order of activities will be randomized for each participant.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 15
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Eligible participants were between the ages of 18 to 35 and naïve to the use of kinesiology tape. Exclusion criteria included musculoskeletal injury to the lower extremities (within the previous year), past surgery to the lower extremities, or known allergy to adhesive tape.

All participants were screened for physical activity and exercise testing using the Physical Activity and Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)15 (British Columbia Ministry of Health, British Columbia/Canada), resting vital signs, and American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for exercise testing. The Physical Activity and Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)(British Columbia Ministry of Health) will be used as a general screen of exercise safety. Additionally, researchers will ask participants to identify possible cardiovascular and/or orthopedic risks to resistance exercise, dominant leg injuries/surgeries, and regarding history or familiarity of elastic tape. Subjects who are at risk due to recent (within the last year) musculoskeletal injury to lower extremities will be excluded from the study. Additionally, we will exclude subjects who report significant respiratory-cardiovascular disease, subjects with a history of surgery on their dominant leg, or individuals who have been trained in elastic tape theory and application. Any participant with a known allergy to adhesives will also be excluded from the study. Blood pressure and heart rate will be measured at the start of each session. Per ACSM's guidelines for exercise testing, if a participant's resting systolic blood pressure is greater than >200 mm Hg or diastolic BP is >110 mm Hg then he/she will be excluded from exercise testing and the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Distal to Proximal Tape; Quadriceps muscle taped (Using Kinesio Tape) starting distal by knee and ending proximal by hip.	Device: Kinesio Tape; Elastic tape placed over the skin
Experimental: Proximal to Distal Tape; Quadriceps muscle taped (Using Kinesio Tape) starting proximal by hip and ending distal by knee.	Device: Kinesio Tape; Elastic tape placed over the skin

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Vertical Jump Height Immediately Post Tape Administration	Vertical Jump Height Immediately Post Tape Administration	Immediate
Unilateral Three Hop for Distance Immediately Post Tape Administration	Unilateral three hop for distance immediately post tape administration	Immediate

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
EMG During Isokinetic Testing at 120 Degrees/Sec Immediately Post Tape Application	EMG data were collected during the isokinetic testing at 120 degrees/sec Immediately Post Tape Application	Immediate
EMG During Isokinetic Testing at 60 Degrees/Sec Immediately Post Tape Application	EMG during isokinetic testing at 60 degrees/second Immediately Post Tape Application	Immediate
Isokinetic Torque at 120 Degrees/Sec Immediately Post Tape Administration	Isokinetic Torque at 120 Degrees/Second Immediately Post Tape Administration	Immediate
Isokinetic Torque at 60 Degrees/Sec Immediately Post Tape Administration	Isokinetic Torque at 60 Degrees/Second Immediately Post Tape Administration	Immediate

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: State University of New York - Upstate Medical University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Michelle Dolphin, DPT, SUNY Upstate Medical

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Dolphin M, Brooks G, Calancie B, Rufa A. Does the Direction of Kinesiology Tape Application Influence Muscle Activation in Asymptomatic Individuals? Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Feb 1;16(1):135-144. doi: 10.26603/001c.18799.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 9, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 11, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): December 17, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 14, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2022
• Last Verified: May 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: SUMU-PT-KTAP1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: No individual participant data will be shared.