Effects of Different Taping Pressures with Wrist Taping on Isokinetic Strength Exertion of Wrist Dorsal and Palmar Flexion

Abstract

We aimed to examine the effects of wrist taping at different pressure levels on isokinetic strength exertion of dorsal and palmar flexion. Nineteen healthy male university students were enrolled. The wrist-taping method involved winding a rigid tape around wrist joint thrice. A qualified athletic trainer adjusted taping pressures using a pressure measuring system, whose sensor was on the palmaris longus muscle tendon of the dominant wrist. Isokinetic dorsal and palmar flexion strength was measured by an isokinetic dynamometer system. Taping pressure [5, 30, 60, and 90 hPa and control (no tape)] and angular velocity [slow (60°/sec), moderate (180°/sec), and fast (300°/sec)] were considered independent variables. Peak torque (Nm) of isokinetic strength exertion was considered the dependent variable. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (taping pressure × angular velocity) was used to calculate the mean differences for peak torque conditions. A significant difference was found only in the main effect of angular velocity. Multiple comparison tests showed that the isokinetic strength exertion was largest in fast flexion in all taping pressure conditions for dorsal flexion, whereas it was largestin slow flexion in the control and 5-hPa conditions for palmar flexion. For palmar flexion, it was larger in slow flexion for 30-hPa. The effects of taping pressure and flexion speed on isokinetic strength exertion may differ between dorsal and palmar flexion of the same wrist.