Abstract:

Purpose: To investigate short-term effects of trunk kinesio tape (KT) application on trunk muscle endurance and postural stability in healthy young adults. Methods: Fifty-eight healthy subjects were randomly assigned into two groups: KT group and placebo KT group. According to the group assignment, KT was applied on both sides of the abdominal and sacrospinal muscles. The trunk muscle endurance with McGill’s trunk muscle endurance tests and postural stability with a force platform (ProKin, Tecnobody, Bergamo, Italy) in static, eyes-open and closed conditions were assessed. Chi-Square test, Paired Samples t-test, Wilcoxon test, Independent samples t-test, and Mann Whitney U test were used for analysis. Results: Demographic characteristics of the KT and placebo KT groups were similar (p>0.05). After KT application, the trunk muscle endurance scores improved (p<0.05) however, no differences were found in postural stability scores (p>0.05) in the KT group. In the placebo KT group, there was no difference between trunk muscle endurance and postural stability scores (p>0.05). It was shown that only trunk flexor and trunk left lateral muscle endurance scores increased in the KT group compared to the placebo KT group (p<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, the trunk KT increased trunk muscle endurance however, it did not improve postural stability in short term. Thus, the trunk KT might be important for improving or supporting trunk control in different populations.

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