The effect of kinesiology tape on knee proprioception in healthy subjects.
BACKGROUND
Kinesiology tape can improve athletic performance; however, due to cutaneous stimulation its application can have an influence on proprioception.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of kinesiology tape on knee proprioception applied to quadriceps, namely in the joint position sense (JPS) and in the threshold to detect passive movement (TTDPM), both immediately after and 24 h after its application.


METHODS
Thirty young healthy participants were randomly divided into experimental and control group. In the experimental group, a kinesiology tape on the quadriceps muscle was applied. The JPS and the TTDPM of the knee was assessed before, immediately after and 24 h after the kinesiology tape intervention.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found in the assessment made before intervention. The Friedman Test showed that kinesiology tape had no influence on JPS in either group over time (p > 0.05). However, the TTDPM decreased significantly immediately after and 24 h after its application (p < 0.05).
CESPU, North Polytechnic Institute of Health, Paredes, Portugal; CEMAH, Activity and Human Movement Study Center, Polytechnic Institute of Oporto, Oporto, Portugal. Electronic address: rui.torres@ipsn.cespu.pt.
Rui
R
Torres
High School of Health of Dr Lopes Dias, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Portugal. Electronic address: raqueltrindade92@gmail.com.
Raquel
R
Trindade
High School of Health of Dr Lopes Dias, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Portugal; Coimbra Health School, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: ruigoncalves@estescoimbra.pt.
Rui Soles
RS
Gonçalves
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055052:Athletic Tape; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Joint position sense; Sensorimotor system; Taping techniques; Threshold to detect passive movement