Kinesiology Taping on muscle performance of quadriceps femoris.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of kinesiology taping (KT) on surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity and muscle flexibility of rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) muscles in healthy volleyball players. Active KT intervention: In subjects from KT group, the one-time Kinesio Tape (Nitto Denko K-Active Tape 5m/5cm, Japan) over the RF in an Y shape was used to increase muscle strength (facilitation technique). The subjects were in a supine position, with knee joint passively flexed out of the bed at an angle of 90 degrees. The KT was applied longitudinally in descending direction, from RF origin (anterior inferior iliac spine) to its insertion (tibial tuberosity). The basis of KT was applied from 2 – 3 cm below RF origin without tension. The middle part of KT between origin and patella basis was applied without tension but during RF muscle passively stretching at flexed knee joint position. Finally two tails were circled around the patella and placed on the skin without tension at an angle of 90 degrees flexed knee joint position. In KT group intervention involved left RF (n=7) and right RF (n=5) and time of application was continued for 24 hours. Passive PT intervention: In subjects form PT group, the one-time adhesive non-elastic tape (Polovis Plus 5m/5cm, Poland) with no therapeutic influence over the same muscle was used. Subjects were in supine position with neutral knee joint position flexed at an angle of 30 degrees. All parts of the PT were applied longitudinally in descending direction in analogous Y shape. In PT group intervention involved left RF (n=5) and right RF (n=5) and time of application was continued for 24 hours. In both groups immediately after 24 hours, KT or PT applications were removed and athletes underwent a final assessment without tapes which was identical to the initial. All procedures were accomplished as one-session intervention in the same conditions (day time, ambient temperature, research room). All subjects were informed not to remove and unstuck the tapes until final measurements will be taken.