The immediate effect of facilitatory and inhibitory Kinesio Taping on the muscular activity and fatigue of the elbow flexor muscles

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of facilitatory and inhibitory Kinesio Taping on elbow flexor muscle activity and fatigue. Ten males and seven females voluntarily participated in this study. Each participant completed the fatigue protocol under inhibitory, facilitative and placebo Kinesio Tape conditions, and electromyography activity of the Biceps Brachii and Brachioradialis muscles was recorded. The activation and fatigue rates of muscles were calculated by root mean square and median frequency slope, respectively. The results showed a significant effect of time on muscle activation, whereas there were no significant effects of Kinesio Tape on muscular activity and fatigue rate. Based on these findings, the muscle activity increases during the fatigue, but Kinesio Tape techniques cannot significantly affect muscle activity under normal or fatigue conditions.  Moreover, these techniques cannot change the onset of fatigue by facilitating or inhibiting muscle