Immediate effects of kinesiology tape on quadriceps muscle peak torque and knee joint repositioning error in healthy males: Effects of different tensions and directions.

BACKGROUND: Knee joint injuries may result from compromised quadriceps muscle strength or diminished knee joint proprioception. The application of Kinesio tape (KT) on the quadriceps muscle from origin to insertion (OTI-KT) or insertion to origin (ITO-KT) could impact knee joint proprioception and quadriceps muscle strength. This study aims to assess the effects of different tensions and directions of KT application on active and passive knee joint repositioning errors (AJRE and PJRE) and peak concentric and eccentric peak torque (CPT and EPT) of the quadriceps muscles in healthy males. METHOD: Twenty-one healthy males participated in this repeated-measures study design. CPT, EPT, AJRE, and PJRE of the dominant limb were measured by a Biodex dynamometer before and after applying OTI-KT with 0%, 15%, and 40% extra tensions and ITO-KT with 0% tension. RESULTS: ITO-KT demonstrated a significant reduction in AJRE (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, for OTI-KT, a statistically significant difference was observed in both AJRE and PJRE concerning time (F1,126 = 19.74, p < 0.05 for AJRE; F1,126 = 9.96, p < 0.05 for PJRE) and tension (F2,126 = 22.14, p < 0.05 for AJRE; F2,126 = 20.67, p < 0.05 for PJRE). CONCLUSION: Applying KT, especially OTI KT with 40% and 15% extra tension, shows potential in enhancing knee proprioception without immediate impacts on quadriceps muscle torque. This suggests applications in sports performance and knee injury rehabilitation.

Knee joint repositioning error in different trunk positions among females with chronic nonspecific low back pain: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Proprioception is a self-perceived sense of position and movement of one's body and its deficits can lead to motor control problems such as delayed muscle reflexes. Previous studies have confirmed lumbar proprioception impairments among individuals with Low Back Pain (LBP), which can afflict the normal central sensory-motor control and hence increases the risk of abnormal loading on the lumbar spine. Although the local investigation of proprioception is important, its influence on other joints in a kinetic chain particularly between extremities and spine should not be ignored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the proprioception of knee joint in different trunk positions among females with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) and healthy females. DESIGN: The study included 24 healthy subjects and 25 patients with CNSLBP participated in this study. Repositioning error of knee joint in four different lumbar positions including flexion, neutral position, 50% ROM of left rotation and 50% ROM right rotation was evaluated using an inclinometer. Absolute error and constant error were obtained and analyzed. RESULTS: Absolute error in flexion and neutral positions in the individuals with CNSLBP were significantly higher than in healthy individuals; whereas, there was no significant difference in absolute and constant error between the two groups in 50% rotation to either side. CONCLUSION: This study showed that knee joint repositioning accuracy was reduced in patients with CNSLBP compared to healthy ones.