Effects of Kinesio taping of the knee on proprioception, balance, and functional performance in patients with anterior cruciate ligament rupture

Abstract

To investigate whether Kinesio tape (KT) application improves proprioception, balance, and functional performance in patients with anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACLr). This retrospective analysis included 48 male patients with surgically-untreated ACLr who attended the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, China between June 2017 and June 2018. KT was applied to induce a detoning effect on the quadriceps muscle and toning effect on the ischiocrural muscles. Proprioception, balance, and functional performance were assessed before and 1 and 7 days after KT application using the Lysholm scale, anteroposterior shift of the tibia (APST), active angle reproduction test (AART), modified star excursion balance test (mSEBT), and single-hop distance (SHD). KT resulted in significant improvements in Lysholm scale at 1 day (83.00 [6.50] vs. 76.00 [5.25], P < .001) and APST (8.00 [2.00] vs. 10.00 [2.00] mm, P < .001), AART (3.00 [1.00] vs. 4.00 [1.75] degrees, P < .001), SEBT (96.08 [6.62] vs. 83.92 [7.31] %, P < .001) and SHD (120.96 [6.94] vs. 106.46 [9.03] %, P < .001) at 3 hours (median [interquartile range]). However, significant deficits remained when compared with the healthy side. Except for mSEBT posterolateral direction, those effects were maintained at 7 days. KT has benefits in people with ACLr but cannot fully compensate for functional deficits. KT could be used to assist knee strengthening during rehabilitation.

The effect of Kinesio taping on cervical proprioception in athletes with mechanical neck pain—a placebo-controlled trial

“…It places constant shear to the skin because of its adherence properties that mimic those of the skin, and it can be used for 3 to 4 days without removal [6]. One of the proposed mechanisms of Kinesio™ tape is to enhance proprioceptive sensibility after application, as it supports weak muscles, improves muscle functioning, decreases pain, repositions subluxated joints, and facilitates blood and lymph circulation [6][7][8]. These effects allow affected fascia and muscle to return to normal functioning by decreasing abnormal muscle tension and improving joint function [9].…”

Effect of Short-Term Kinesiology Taping on Knee Proprioception and Quadriceps Performance in Healthy Individuals

“…This result is supported by the results of previous studies that explored knee joint position sense in healthy subject after taping for 24 h ( Torres et al, 2016 ). However, Liu et al (2019) established that KT can improve the knee proprioception of patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Cho et al (2015) found that KT potentially improves positive knee joint position sense in patients with knee osteoarthritis after 1 h. Callaghan et al (2008) showed that the poor proprioception of patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome can be improved after taping.…”

“…Kinesiology taping (KT), an elastic, water-resistant, and air permeable tape, was developed by Kenzo Kase in the 1970s, the tape can stretch to 120–140% of its original length and can recoil after application ( Kase et al, 2003 ). On the basis of its special features, the compressive and shear force applied by the tape on the skin activates cutaneous mechanoreceptors related to joint position, movement, and force ( Kase et al, 2003 ), conveying more information from the knee joint to the central nervous system for integration and, therefore, resulting in enhanced proprioception ( Riemann and Lephart, 2002 ; Liu et al, 2019 ). Previous studies verified that the recoiling force direction of the tape is the same as that of a muscle contraction, is potentially transmitted to the fascia and facilitates a target muscle’s production of high force ( Kuo and Huang, 2013 ; Yam M. L. et al, 2019 ; Ye et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Improvement of proprioception sensitivity and quadriceps performance may reduce the risk of injuries ( Oliveira et al, 2016 ; Bertelsen et al, 2017 ; Pope et al, 2017 ). Given the popularity of KT among sports enthusiasts, numerous studies demonstrated that KT can improve knee proprioception ( Hosp et al, 2015 ) and activate the quadriceps ( Liu et al, 2019 ). However, the proposed effect of KT was not found in some studies ( Fernandes de Jesus et al, 2016 ; Oliveira et al, 2016 ; Serrao et al, 2016 ).…”

Immediate Effect of Calf Muscle Kinesio Taping on Ankle Joint Reposition Sense and Force Sense in Healthy Elderly

“…I believed that KT elicits the proprioception sense through increased stimulation of cutaneous mechanoreceptors. 26 Schultz et al 27 published the first detailed description of mechanoreceptors in human and suggested that they may have a proprioceptive function. Adachi et al 28 also reported that mechanoreceptors contribute to the joint position sense.…”