Background: Scoliosis can be caused by postural changes. The effects of Schroth exercises and Kinesio taping for scoliosis have been reported independently, but there are few studies on the effects of combining both methods. Objectives: To investigated the effects of Schroth exercises and kinesio taping on the Cobb angle and dynamic balance ability in patients with scoliosis. Design: Quaxi-experimental study. Methods: Participants were divided into the taping (n=3) and non-taping (n=3) groups. Pre-tests for the Cobb angle and dynamic balance were performed prior to the first intervention, and post-tests were performed after the intervention was completed. The non-taping group performed Schroth exercises for a total of 12 35-minute sessions thrice a week for 6 weeks. Meanwhile, in the taping group, Kinesio tape was attached before performing the same exercises and was maintained for 24 hours after the exercises were finished. Results: In the taping group, there was no significant change in the Cobb angle and dynamic balance ability pre- and post-intervention (P>.05). Similarly, there was no significant change in the Cobb angle and dynamic balance ability pre- and post-intervention (P>.05) in the non-taping group. Furthermore, there was no significant difference upon comparing the two groups (P>.05). Conclusion: Kinesio taping combined with Schroth exercises did not give additional benefits in terms of the Cobb angle and dynamic balance ability than that in the application of Schorth exercises alone.

Background: Individuals with calf muscle shortening may have decreased dynamic balance. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of mobilization with movement (MWM) and myofascial release (MFR) on kinematic changes in dynamic balance in individuals with calf muscle shortening. Methods: Thirteen participants were randomly assigned to the MWM or the mobilization with movement added myofascial release (MWM-MFR) group. The MWM group received treatment with only MWM, whereas the MWM-MFR group was treated with MWM and MFR. Pre- and post-intervention passive range of motion (PROM), maximum reaching lengths, and modified star excursion balance test (MSEBT) results were compared for all participants. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The results showed significant within-group differences in ankle PROM, but no significant between-group differences. The maximum reaching length in the MWM-MFR group in the posterolateral direction was significantly different before and after the intervention (p = 0.005). This group also showed significantly reduced ankle abduction in MSEBT during the posteromedial direction section 3 (p = 0.007) and posterolateral direction section 5 (p = 0.049) compared with the MWM group. Conclusion: Combined MWM and MFR intervention improves ankle stability in the coronal plane during the posteromedial and posterolateral forward mo

Background: Foot drop is a common symptom in stroke patients. Tape applications are widely used to manage foot drop symptoms. Previous studies have evaluated the effects of static and dynamic balance and gait on foot drop using kinesiology tape; however, only few studies have used dynamic tape application in stroke patients with foot drop. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of dynamic taping, which facilitates the dorsiflexor muscle, on static and dynamic balance and gait speed in stroke patients with foot drop. Methods: The study included 34 voluntary patients (17 men, 17 women) with stroke. The patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 17), wherein dynamic taping was used to facilitate the dorsiflexor muscle, or the control group (n = 17), wherein kinesiology taping was used. Before the taping application, velocity average, path-length average, Berg balance scale, and timed up and go test (TUG) were recorded to measure static and dynamic balance, whereas the 10-meter walk test (10MWT) was used to measure gait speed. After the taping application, these parameters were re-evaluated in both groups. Repeated measure analysis of variance was used. Statistical significance levels were set to α = 0.05. Results: Except for the 10MWT scores in the control group, significant differences were noted in all the parameters measured for static and dynamic balance and gait speed between the pre and post-test (p < 0.05). However, the parameters showed significant interaction effects between group and time in the TUG and 10MWT (p < 0.01). Conclusion: These results indicate that compared with kinesiology taping, dynamic taping used in chronic stroke patients with foot drop had a more significant effect on dynamic balance and gait speed.

Background: Neck pain is a major health problem in developed countries and has a lifetime prevalence of 50%. Major problems include a reduced cervical range of motion, muscle stiffness, dysfunction, postural changes, and decrease in psychosocial level. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying the upper trapezius inhibition dynamic taping to patients with chronic neck pain on their neck pain, functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture. Methods: The study design was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 40 patients with neck pain participated in this study and were randomly assigned to a Dynamic Taping group (n = 20) or Sham Taping group (n = 20). In both groups, basic intervention cervical pain control therapy and shoulder stabilization exercise program were performed. In addition, dynamic taping and sham taping were applied to participants in the Dynamic Taping and Sham Taping groups to inhibit the trapezius muscle, respectively. All interventions were performed three times a week and a total of 12 times for 4 weeks, and the participants’ neck pain, functional impairment level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture were measured and compared before and after the intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant differences in neck pain, functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck postural before and after the intervention (p < 0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences between the two groups regarding the functional level and neck posture (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Inhibition dynamic taping of the upper trapezius muscle suppression is an effective method with clinical significance in reducing pain in individuals with chronic neck pain and improving the functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture.

Background: Postural control deficit is a major characteristic in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Elastic ankle tapings are commonly used to facilitate postural control in patients with CAI as well as prevent relapse of a lateral ankle sprain. However, equivocal evidence exists concerning the effect of elastic ankle taping on postural control. Objects: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of elastic ankle tapings using kinesio taping (KT) and dynamic taping (DT) on static and dynamic postural control in patients with CAI. Methods: Fifteen subjects with CAI were participated in this study. The participants performed tests under three conditions (barefoot, KT, and DT). Static postural control was evaluated using the one-leg standing test (OLST) and dynamic postural control using the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT). One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare center of pressure (CoP) data and normalized mSEBT reach distances among the three conditions (with α = 0.05). Results: The CoP parameters (path length, ellipse area, and mean velocity) of the OLST significantly decreased on applying KT and DT compared with those when barefoot. The normalized reach distances in the anteromedial (AM), medial (M), and posteromedial (PM) directions of the mSEBT significantly increased with DT compared to that in the control condition. Further, the higher reach distances with KT compared with those in the control condition were obtained in the M and PM directions of the mSEBT. No significant differences were identified in any of the OLST and SEBT parameters between the two different taping applications. Conclusion: KT and DT improved static postural control during the OLST compared with the control condition. Moreover, these tapes improved dynamic postural control during the mSEBT compared to the control. Therefore, elastic ankle tapings are useful prophylactic devices for the prevention and treatment of ankle sprain in people with CAI.

Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is the most common chronic musculoskeletal conditions of the upper extremity with pain and wrist extension disability. The tendon which is most affected is the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB). Previous study evaluated the effect of taping technique on patient with LE, but no study investigated the changes of electromyography (EMG) on ECRB when using dynamic taping (DT) technique. Objects: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of DT technique using dynamic tape on muscle activity of ECRB during wrist isometric extension, isotonic extension and flexion. Methods: Twenty-one healthy subjects volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were instructed to perform wrist isometric extension, isotonic extension and flexion without and with DT on origin area of ECRB. Wrist isometric extension was performed at 75%, 50% and 25% (%maximal voluntary contraction force), respectively, based on maximum contraction force. Isotonic extension and flexion test used dumbbell. EMG data was collected from ECRB. Results: EMG of ECRB were statistically significant decrease in wrist isotonic extension after DT (p < 0.05). Significant increase in wrist isometric extension during 25% and 50% force task (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study applied DT technique to suppress the wrist extensor muscles in 21 healthy adults in their twenties. Change in muscle activity was compared in the ECRB muscle during wrist isometric extension, isotonic extension and flexion task. Based on the results of this study, the DT technique applied to the wrist and forearm area can reduce the load on the wrist extensors when the wrist performs various movements during daily life movements or repetitive tasks, and by using these effects, excessive stress is applied to tennis elbow patients.

Background: Ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries in the sports population or during usual daily life activities. The sprain can cause functional ankle instability (FAI), and it is very important to treat FAI. However, the optimum intervention method for FAI has yet to be determined. Objects: This study investigated the impact that virtual reality (VR) training program on balance with ankle kinesio taping for FAI. Methods: Twenty-two people were selected for the study and randomly divided into the experimental (n = 11) and the control group (n = 11). The experimental group had attached kinesio taping on the ankle and then implemented a virtual reality exercise program for 30 minutes a day. Nintendo Wii Fit Plus was used for the VR intervention three times a week for four weeks. The control group performed only two measurements without intervention. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in overall, anterior-posterior (AP), medial-lateral (ML) index of the static balance, and significant differences in overall, AP, ML index of the dynamic balance when taping and VR exercise were applied at the same time (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in overall and ML index of static and dynamic balance compared with before and after assessment between the experimental and the control group, and found differences in AP index of static and dynamic balance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Kinesio taping may not influence the balance of FAI as great as people expected. VR approach does not affect the static balance of FAI, but it influences dynamic balance in overall, AP, ML index. The authors suggest that VR-based exercises can be used as an additional concept in clinicians for FAI or as part of a home program because the exercises still have limitations.

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.