Dynamic strength performance and kinesiotaping: an acute study

AIM The aim of this study was to analyze the strength variation of weightlifting exercises (bench press and leg extension) measured by 5 maximal repetitions (5RM) in subjects with and without the use of the Kinesiotaping (KT) (Atex Medical Co.Ltd , Korea). The KT was applied on quadriceps muscles and pectoral muscles with " the compression method" that means that the tape is extended and the muscle is contracted before its application. METHODS Twelve weightlifting athletes were studied (age 29±4, weight 76±6 kg, height 179±6 cm and 8±3 years of training) divided into two groups (A and B). Group A in the first test session did the leg extension exercise with the KT applied to the quadriceps muscle and the bench press exercise without KT applied to the chest muscle, whereas the group B carried out the strength test with the application of the KT in opposite order. In the second session groups A and B performed the exercises switching the application of KT. The device used for measuring the strength test was the Myotest (MVM, Italy). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Data with and without the use of the KT were compared using the non-parametric Wilcoxon test. The level of significance "P" was fixed at 0.05. Each analysis was carried out using the GraphPad programme (GraphPad Software, Inc., USA). The percentage difference of the performance of strength exercises with and without the KT was calculated as follows: ((NKT-KT)/KT)*100 where NKT = without tape; KT = with tape. RESULTS No statistically significant variations of strength performance with and without the application of the KT were observed: 1) Leg extension exercise = ns, -9%; 2) Bench press exercise = ns, +7%. DISCUSSION The acute application of the KT did not affect the strength value in both upper and lower body muscles.