title: Kinesiology taping does not change fibularis longus latency time and postural sway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kinesiology tape seems to improve muscle force, although little is known regarding its effect on latency time and postural sway.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of kinesiology taping on fibularis longus latency time and postural sway in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty participants were equally randomized into three groups, two experimental groups receiving kinesiology tape (EG1, from origin to insertion; EG2, from insertion to origin) and a control group. Before and 20-min after the intervention, postural sway was assessed on a force platform and fibularis longus latency time was recorded with surface electromyography during a sudden inversion perturbation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, no differences were found between groups regarding age, anthropometrics variables, postural sway and fibularis longus latency time. In both experimental groups, the application of tape did not change postural sway and fibularis longus latency time (EG1: 93.7 ± 15.0 to 89.9 ± 15.6 ms; EG2, 81.24 ± 14.21 to 81.57 ± 16.64, p < 0.05). Also, no changes were observed in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kinesiology tape seems not to enhance fibularis longus reaction time and postural sway in young healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Clinic at University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic Health Institute of North, Gandra PRD, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic Health Institute of North, Gandra PRD, Portugal.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Porto Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; CINTESIS.UA, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; CINTESIS.UA, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: fernando.ribeiro@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D055052:Athletic Tape; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Kinesiology tape; Latency time; Postural sway