Force irradiation effect of kinesiotaping on contralateral muscle activation

Abstract

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 %EMG(max). The KT group showed significantly higher %EMG(max) 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 %EMG(max) and 6.62 %EMG(max) 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 %EMG(max) and 9.39 %EMG(max) for the control and KT groups, respectively (p = 0.046). The median values of the contralateral muscle activity were 4.49 %EMG(max) and 22.89 %EMG(max) 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.