Effects of Kinesiotape on the activation of the transversus abdominis muscle in healthy adults. A pilot study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v80.118479Keywords:
Abdominal ultrasound, bandage, kinesiotape, transverse abdominalAbstract
Introduction: Kinesiotape or neuromuscular taping is an elastic adhesive bandage that can provide analgesic and propioceptive effects, increase blood and lymphatic flow and regulate muscle tone.
Objectives: to review the feasibility of the study and to determine whether the application of stimulating kinesiotape to the transversus abdominis muscle produces greater activation of this muscle in healthy subjects evaluated by ultrasound.
Methodology: the study design is a pilot randomised controlled clinical trial. Subjects were evaluated in parallel arms and single blinded. To assess transverse muscle activity, muscle thickness was measured with ultrasound in three situations: at rest, in the initial and final position of the dead bug exercise. The subjects were evaluated before and after the application of the bandage, the intervention group with abdominal kinesiotape and the control group with lumbar kinesiotape.
Results: the research was conducted without the need for modifications to the design and without finding adverse effects in any of the participants. Regarding the observed changes, no significant differences were found between groups after the immediate implementation of kinesiotape. In the intervention group, a greater transverse muscle activation was found in the execution of the exercise when it was performed with the bandage.
Conclusions: the application of abdominal kinesiotape is a valid and reliable method for obtaining activation of the transversus abdominis muscle. Preliminary results show significant improvements, but these should not be considered definitive as they fall within the margin of error of the ultrasound machine.
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