Force irradiation effect of kinesiotaping on contralateral muscle activation

• Published in: Human movement science 2019-08, Vol.66, p.310-317
• Main Authors: Denizoglu Kulli, Hilal, Karabulut, Derya, Saka, Tolga, Akan, Aydın, Arslan, Yunus Ziya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Contralateral muscle activation; EMG activity; Force irradiation; Kinesiotaping
• ISSN: 0167-9457; 1872-7646
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2019.05.011

•Force irradiation effect of kinesiotape on contralateral muscle activity was studied.•Kinesiotaping promoted contralateral muscle activity in the biceps brachii.•Eccentric contraction created the highest contralateral muscle activity.•Kinesiotaping on the resting limb may promote the force irradiation. We aimed to determine the force irradiation effect of kinesiotaping (KT) on contralateral muscle activity during unilateral muscle contraction. Forty healthy (26 females, 14 males) subjects were divided into two groups: KT and control groups. KT was applied on the biceps brachii at the contralateral limb (non-dominant limb) in the KT group, whereas no taping was applied to the control group. All participants performed unilateral isometric, concentric, and eccentric contractions with their dominant upper limbs (exercised limb) by means of an isokinetic dynamometer, while the contralateral limb was in the resting condition, neutral position, and motionless during the testing procedure. During the exercise, contralateral biceps brachii muscle activity was recorded by surface electromyography (EMG). To quantify the muscle activation, EMG signals were expressed as a percentage of the maximal isometric voluntary contraction, which is referred to as %EMGmax. The KT group showed significantly higher %EMGmax in the biceps brachii compared to the control group at the contralateral limb during the isometric, concentric, and eccentric contractions (p = 0.035, p = 0.046, and p = 0.002, respectively) The median values of the contralateral muscle activity were 2.74 %EMGmax and 6.62 %EMGmax during the isometric contraction for the control and KT groups, respectively (p = 0.035). During the concentric contraction, the median values of the contralateral muscle activity were 1.61 %EMGmax and 9.39 %EMGmax for the control and KT groups, respectively (p = 0.046). The median values of the contralateral muscle activity were 4.49 %EMGmax and 22.89 %EMGmax for the eccentric contraction for the control and KT groups, respectively (p = 0.002). In conclusion, KT application on the contralateral limb increased the contralateral muscle activation in the biceps brachii during the unilateral isometric, concentric, and eccentric contractions.