Effects Of Kinesiology Tape On Balance

Abstract

The ability to maintain balance, or postural control, is an essential component in motor skills ranging from simply maintaining posture to performing complex voluntary movements. Improving balance has been shown to help with recovery from injury, injury prevention, and improved functional performance in both young and older adults. PURPOSE: To determine if different applications (i.e., medial-lateral (ML) vs. anterior-posterior (AP)) of kinesiology tape affect postural control. METHODS: Participants’ (6 men, 20 women; 23.7 ± 3.9 yr) ML stability index (MLSI), AP stability index (APSI), and overall stability index (OSI) were measured using a balance platform under three bare-footed conditions in random order: control (no tape); tape applied in a ML stirrup under the heel, extending 12” above the medial malleolus to 12” above the lateral malleolus; and tape applied in an AP direction under the heel and extending proximally on the posterior calf in a Y-pattern on each side of the gastrocnemius. Each application was made bilaterally with 50% tension. For each condition, three stances (should-width, full tandem, unilateral) held for 10 sec each with eyes closed were assessed on stable and foam surfaces. RESULTS: Kinesiology tape did not have an affect on any measure of balance while standing on a firm surface in all 3 stances. Tape applied in the AP and ML direction did improve (p<0.05) MLSI by 20% while standing on foam with a shoulder-width stance. Tape in the ML direction had no other effect on balance while standing on foam for any stance. Tape applied in the AP direction improved (p<0.05) AFSI (19%) and OSI (17%) for both the full tandem and unilateral stances on foam. CONCLUSIONS: Kinesiology tape applied in the ML direction has little, if any, effect on balance. However, tape applied in the AP direction does appear to improve balance in the AP direction, as well as overall stability, in more challenging static conditions such as standing on foam with a reduced base of support. Further research is needed to understand the effects of kinesiology tape, particularly when applied to the lower leg in the AP direction, during situations when postural control is challenged, not only in static positions, but also during dynamic movements.