Kinesio taping applied to lumbar muscles in static lumbar flexion

ABSTRACT

Purpose: In approaching full trunk flexion [75%-80% of full flexion], myoelectric activity of lumbar erector spinae muscles is reduced or silenced; this response is known as flexion-relaxation phenomenon [FRP]. FRP is a shift in load sharing and spinal stabilization from active structures [erector spinae muscles] to passive ligamentous and articular structures. Static lumbar flexion under constant displacement or load, within the physiological range, elicits creep in lumbar viscoelastic tissues. During a short static lumbar flexion, significant changes are elicited in the muscular activity pattern of the FRP. Laxity in the passive tissues of the spine during prolonged spinal flexion disturbs the spinal stability. This study investigated the effects of Kinesio taping [KT] before and after periods of the static lumbar flexion on the timing of FRP for the erector spinae muscles