Acute effect of inhibitory kinesio-tape of the upper trapezius on lower trapezius muscle excitation in healthy shoulders.
INTRODUCTION
Shoulder pain increases excitation of the upper trapezius (UT) and reduces excitation in the lower trapezius (LT). Despite inconclusive evidence, kinesio-tape (KT) is often used to modify muscular excitation within the UT and/or LT to help correct alterations in scapular position and motion associated with shoulder pain/injury. The objective of the current study was to determine if inhibitory KT to the UT acutely increases LT excitation and if load alters the magnitude of change in the excitation observed.


METHODS
Twenty-two (N = 22, 11 female) individuals with healthy shoulders (24 ± 3 years) completed 10 repetitions of an arm elevation task during 3 taping conditions (no-tape, experimental KT, sham KT) and 2 loading conditions (no load and loaded). Whole-muscle (mean grid) and spatial distribution (grid row) of LT excitation (root mean squared; RMS) was measured using a single high-density surface electromyography 32-electrode grid.


RESULTS
There was a main effect for loading condition on whole-muscle LT RMS, F (1, 19) = 38.038, p < .001, partial η2 = 0.667. Whole-muscle LT RMS was significantly higher in the loaded condition (0.055 V ±0 .005) compared to the no-load condition (0.038 V ±0 .004). No effect of tape condition was observed on whole-muscle or spatial distribution of RMS.


CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that inhibitory KT to the UT does not alter whole-muscle excitation or shift the distribution of excitation within the LT during a repeated arm elevation task in healthy shoulders.
['Bohunicky|Sarah|S|', 'Henderson|Zachariah J|ZJ|', 'Simon|Nathaniel|N|', 'Dacanay|Mark|M|', 'Scribbans|Trisha D|TD|']
D055052:Athletic Tape D004576:Electromyography D005260:Female D006801:Humans D018482:Muscle, Skeletal D012540:Scapula D012782:Shoulder D064171:Superficial Back Muscles
Inhibitory Kinesio-tape Upper trapezius Lower trapezius Muscle excitation Shoulder pain Spatial distribution High-density surface electromyography Electromyographic amplitude