Can the effects of muscle techniques in kinesiotaping be demonstrated objectively in female healthy individuals? An electrophysiological study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of kinesiotaping (KT) using facilitation and inhibition techniques on electrical muscle activity in the vastus medialis (VM) muscle in healthy individuals and to examine the relationship between the initial electrical activity level of the muscle and the changes in electrical activity that may occur after taping. Patients and methods: Between May 2024 and August 2024, a total of 75 healthy female volunteers (median age: 32 years; range, 21 to 56 years) were included in the study. The maximum and mean amplitude values of electrical activity in the VM muscle were recorded during a six-second maximum voluntary isometric contraction. Surface electrodes were attached to the motor point of the VM muscle on the dominant leg. Measurements were taken three times: before the KT application and 30 min after KT applications using facilitation and inhibition techniques. Results: Compared to before the KT application measurements, the maximum and mean amplitude values of electrical muscle activity significantly increased after the facilitation technique (p<0.001) and significantly decreased after the inhibition technique (p<0.001). Additionally, the maximum amplitude value recorded before KT was negatively correlated with the increase in maximum amplitude observed after facilitation, and positively correlated with the decrease in amplitude after inhibition. Conclusion: Kinesiotaping applications using muscle techniques can modulate electrical muscle activity, either increasing or decreasing it. When before the KT application muscle activity is high, the facilitation effect is less pronounced, while the inhibition effect becomes more prominent.