International Journal of Therapies and Rehabilitation Research

Abstract
Background: Kinesio tape and its strength enhancing properties have been the focus of recent research based on the neuromuscular facilitator theory. Grip strength is not simply the force generated by the fingers and wrist joint, it is also intimately connected with the muscular strength of forearm, and the brachial and shoulder joints.
Purpose of the study: To identify the best region (shoulder versus forearm extensor) and the best time interval (immediate, 30, 60, and120 minutes) after kinesio taping to obtain the maximum improvement in grip strength in normal subjects.
Material and Methods: Forty five normal subjects from both genders participated in this study. They were classified randomly into two groups. Group (A) Shoulder kinesio tape while Group (B) Forearm extensor kinesio tape. Group A consisted of 24 participants (12 females and 12 males) with mean age, height, body mass, and BMI values of 23.37±3.22 years, 168.95±8.68 cm, 64.08±7.24 kg, and 22.41±1.84 kg/m2 respectively. Group B consisted of 21 participants (11 females and 10 males) with mean age, height, body mass, and BMI values of 23.61±3.33 years, 167.57±8.81 cm, 64.52±9.13 kg, and 22.84±1.65 kg/m2 respectively.
A Hand Grip dynamometer was used to measure grip strength before and (immediate, 30, 60, and 120 minutes) after I-shaped application of tape (with 50% stretch) to the shoulder and forearm extensor muscles.
Results: The obtained results revealed that there was significant difference in the mean value of hand grip strength among different conditions in both groups (P=0.0001), but there was no significant difference between both groups (P>0.05). The best time interval in group (A) was at 30 minutes while the best time interval in group (B) was at 60 minutes.
Conclusion: It could be concluded that the use of shoulder and forearm extensor kinesio tape appeared to be effective in increasing hand grip strength in normal subjects. There is an effect of the time after shoulder and forearm extensor kinesio tape on hand grip strength.

Key words: Kinesio Tape, Hand Grip strength, Hand Grip Dynamometer, Shoulder, Forearm extensors

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