DOES ELASTIC TAPING ON THE TRICEPS SURAE FACILITATE THE ABILITY OF VERTICAL JUMP?

Abstract

T.S Hsieh, P.L Wu, J.H Liao, T.Y Kuo, T.Y Wu, C.Y Huang, S.K Chang, H. Chai, F.C Su Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan Graduate Institute and Department of Physical Therapy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan email: fcsu@mail.ncku.edu.tw INTRODUCTION Elastic taping applied on the triceps surae has been commonly used by the athletes to improve the performance of lower extremity. It has been described by the athletes that elastic taping to the triceps surae would make them “feel” stronger in jumping. However, less objective and solid evidences have been documented. For athletes, vertical jump is an indicator of performance capacity of lower extremity, [1]. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of elastic taping on the triceps surae during maximal vertical jump.