Biau S, Burgaud I. Application of kinesiology taping to equine abdominal musculature in a tension frame for muscle facilitation increases longitudinal activity at the trot.
Equine Vet J 2021;
54:973-978. [PMID:
34719053 DOI:
10.1111/evj.13533]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Kinesiology taping (KT) has been used on human subjects for many years. More recently, KT has been used in sport horses. The physiological mechanisms involved remain unclear and its benefits are controversial.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the effects of application of kinesiology taping to abdominal muscles on locomotor parameters before and after lungeing exercise in horses.
STUDY DESIGN
Cross-over study.
METHODS
Eleven horses were tested twice, once with an application of KT without tension on abdominal muscles (condition 1) and once with a facilitation application of KT on abdominal muscles (condition 2). A triaxial accelerometric device, located in the trunk (Equimetrix system® ), was used at walk and trot in hand on a straight line before (30 min after the KT application) and after a lungeing session. Locomotor parameters were calculated, including stride frequency, regularity and symmetry, dorsoventral displacement and dorsoventral, mediolateral and longitudinal activities.
RESULTS
At trot, the longitudinal activity was significantly higher for condition 2 than for condition 1, before (7.6 ± 1.8 W/kg vs. 5.4 ± 2.2 W/kg, P = .02) and after (7.3 ± 1.3 W/kg vs. 6.1 ± 1.7 W/kg, P = .005) the lungeing session.
MAIN LIMITATIONS
The speed was not measured. The recording conditions and the experimenter, unaware of conditions, were the same for all horses to limit variations.
CONCLUSIONS
Kinesiology taping on abdominal muscles immediately increased longitudinal activity at trot in hand and this benefit was still present after a lungeing session. Longitudinal activity is a sought-after quality; thus, this method could be used as a way to enhance a training program. Future investigations are needed to confirm this result in horses being ridden.
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