Background: For performing various movements well, cooperation between the muscles around the scapula and shoulder has been emphasized. Taping has been widely used clinically as a helpful adjunct to other physiotherapy methods for shoulder pathology and dysfunction treatment. Previous studies have evaluated the effect of taping techniques using dynamic tapes on shoulder function and pain. However, no study investigated the electromyographic (EMG) changes in the shoulder muscles. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the upper limb offload taping technique using a dynamic tape on EMG activities of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius, serratus anterior (SA), and middle deltoid (MD) muscles during scaption plane elevation. Methods: A total of 26 healthy subjects (19.85 ± 6.40 years, male = 20) volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were instructed to perform scaption elevation with and without dynamic taping on the shoulder. Shoulder elevation strength tests were performed at 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%, for the maximal isometric contraction force. Results: There were statistically significant interaction effects between the taping application and shoulder scaption elevation force in EMG activities in the UT (p < 0.05) and MD (p < 0.05). EMG activities in the UT showed significant increases in 50%RVC (reference voluntary contraction, p < 0.05) and 25%RVC (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the EMG activity of the SA significantly increased in 50%RVC (p < 0.01) and 25%RVC (p < 0.01) after dynamic taping. For the MD, the EMG activity level significantly decreased in 100%RVC (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that upper limb offload dynamic taping application affects the muscle activities of some shoulder muscles depending on different scaption elevation strength levels. Therefore, we suggest that the upper limb offload dynamic taping can be applied to the shoulders when patients need middle deltoid inhibition or upper trapezius facilitation, such as patients with shoulder impingement syndrome.

이 연구의 목적은 신체활동이 마이오카인 발현에 미치는 영향을 보고자 문헌고찰을 하였다. 신체적인 활동은 제2형 당뇨, 심혈관질환, 대장암, 치매 및 우울증과 같은 질환을 예방하는 역할을 하고 있다. 그리고 마이오카인(myokine)은 운동 훈련에 의해 분비되는 호르몬으로 뇌성장이나 알츠하이머 같은 질환예방에 도움을 준다. 운동수행과정에서 수축하는 근육으로부터 분비되는 항염증 마이오카인의 생성과 대사조절에 필요한 분비 활성화가 건강증진에 중요한 요인으로 보고 있다. 인체 골격근에서 분비되는 마이오카인 가운데 IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-15 등은 근육비대(hypertrophy)와 세포(myogenesis) 및 혈관생성(angiogenesis) 등의 조절에 관여한다. IL-6는 AMPK 활성화로 인한 대사중 지방 산화를 촉진시키는 작용을 하고, IL-1Ra, IL-10 과 sTNF-R 는 염증성 싸이토카인 TNF-α의 분비를 억제한다. IL-15는 저항운동시 근수축을 통한 발현량이 증가하어 근육 성장의 중요 합성요인으로 작용한다. 한편 IL-7 및 IL-8도 신호 전달 수용체 C-X-C를 통해 혈관신생을 촉진시킨다.