Effects of Kinesio Taping on Hip Abductor Muscle Strength and EMG Activity

The aim was to study the effects of Kinesio Tape on hip abductor muscle strength and EMG activity. Pretest-posttest experimental design was used. The study was conducted in the research lab of the University. Thirty-four athletes with a mean age of 22.08 years participated in the study. For the experimental group Kinesio Tape and for the control group Micropore Tape (MT) was applied over Gluteus Medius (GM) muscle. GM muscle's strength and EMG activity were noted in supine and during the Single-Leg Squat Test (SLST) respectively before and after the intervention. Hip abductor muscle strength measured through a maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and GM activation measured through EMG. Handheld dynamometer (Lafayette manual muscle test system), Power Lab EMG system.

Inclusion criteria

• Repeated episodes of giving way after an initial ankle sprain,
• A history of at least 2 ankle sprains to the same side without injury to the contralateral ankle in the last 2 years,
• No history of other trauma to the lower extremities for the past 3 months prior to the study,
• Participants also needed to be capable of full weight-bearing without analgia,
• Subjectively reported that functional use of ankle had plateaued since the last injury.

Exclusion criteria

• Participants having a history of ankle fracture, knee ligament injury, back or lower limb surgery, neuromuscular disease, or current neurological deficit,
• Currently receiving ankle rehabilitation were excluded from the study.