The Effect of Kinesio Taping on Spasticity: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study in Para-Swimmers

in Journal of Sport Rehabilitation

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Luca Puce
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Ilaria Pallecchi
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Lucio Marinelli
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Maria May
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Laura Mori
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Piero Ruggeri
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Marco Bove
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2019-0504
Keywords:
muscle spasticity; stretch reflex; athletes; para-athlete; electromyography
First Published Online:
12 Aug 2020
In Print:
Volume 30: Issue 3
Page Range:
414–421
Restricted access

Context: Kinesio Taping (KT) produces several clinical effects, including pain relief, edema absorption, and improved muscle performance. When applied in the insertion to origin mode, it is claimed to inhibit excessive muscle contractions. Objective: Investigate whether KT applied in the insertion to origin mode could reduce the exaggerated reflex contraction of spastic muscles. Design: Randomized crossover trial, with a restricted block randomization. Setting: Clinical laboratory and swimming pool. Patients: Seven para-swimmers. Intervention: KT, applied in inhibitory mode, to investigate its effect on knee extensor spasticity. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome is stretch reflex, as compared with clinical assessment of spasticity by Modified Ashworth Scale and self-perceived spasticity by numeric rating scale. Secondary outcomes were Medical Research Council for strength of knee extensor muscles and chronometric swimming performance in 100-m freestyle. Results: KT significantly decreased the amplitude of stretch reflex (P < .001), whereas the placebo treatment produced no significant effects. Scores of Medical Research Council for strength and Modified Ashworth Scale did not change after KT, whereas numeric rating scale scores for spasticity significantly decreased (P = .001). The swimming performance was significantly improved after KT treatment as compared with baseline (P < .01). Conclusions: This exploratory study performed on para-athletes suggests that KT could reduce spasticity. This outcome has 3-fold implications for clinical, rehabilitation, and sport methods.

Puce, Marinelli, and Mori are with the Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. Pallecchi is with the Physics Department, CNR-SPIN, Genoa, Italy. Marinelli and Mori are also with the Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy. May is with the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Klinikum Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany. Ruggeri and Bove are with the Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.

Puce (luca1puce@gmail.com) is corresponding author.
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