Acute effect of elastic bandage technique on middle deltoid muscle force and activation in healthy men

Abstract Introduction: Elastic bandages (EB), such as Kinesio taping, have been widely used in sports or daily life activities with the aim of preventing or reducing musculoskeletal injuries. It has been suggested that Kinesio Taping is capable of altering muscle activation through neurophysiological mechanisms, but the evidences about this are controversial. Objective: To verify the acute effect of EB on maximum voluntary isometric force (MVIF) and muscle activation of the middle deltoid muscle during muscle contraction. Method: Twenty-four healthy male (24 ± 4 years, 73.2 ± 13.9kg, 1.80 ± 0.10m) were randomly assigned to a group with elastic bandage activated at 100% (AEB n = 8); with tensionless elastic bandage (NEB n = 8), and the control group (CG n = 9). The volunteers were instructed to perform 5s of maximal isometric contraction at 90° of shoulder abduction while the MIVF and EMGrms records were registered. Results: One-way ANOVA was unable to identify significant difference (α = 0.05) in MIVF and EMGrms of the middle deltoid at 90° of shoulder abduction. Conclusion: The application of elastic bandage was not able to alter the production of maximal isometric voluntary contraction and activation of the middle deltoid muscle of healthy individuals and, therefore, its use is not justified for these purposes.

摘要 引言：弹性绷带（elastic bandages, EB），例如肌内效贴（Kinesio taping），已被广泛应用于运动及日常生活场景，用于预防或减轻肌肉骨骼损伤。现有研究提出，肌内效贴可通过神经生理机制调控肌肉激活状态，但相关研究证据尚存争议。
研究目的：本研究旨在验证弹性绷带在肌肉收缩过程中，对三角肌中部最大自主等长肌力（maximum voluntary isometric force, MVIF）及肌肉激活水平的急性影响。
研究方法：招募24名健康男性受试者（年龄24±4岁，体重73.2±13.9kg，身高1.80±0.10m），通过随机分组分为三组：100%张力弹性绷带组（AEB，n=8）、无张力弹性绷带组（NEB，n=8）及对照组（CG，n=9）。要求受试者在肩关节外展90°的体位下完成5秒最大等长收缩，同时记录MIVF与肌电图均方根（EMGrms）数据。
研究结果：单因素方差分析（one-way ANOVA）在α=0.05的显著性水平下，未发现肩关节外展90°位时三角肌中部的MIVF与EMGrms存在显著组间差异。
研究结论：弹性绷带的应用并未改变健康个体三角肌中部的最大自主等长收缩产生能力与肌肉激活水平，因此出于上述目的使用该类绷带并无合理依据。