A COMPARISON OF THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF INHIBITORY AND EXCITATORY KINESIOTAPING METHODS VERSUS PROPRIOCEPTIVE NEUROMUSCULAR FACILITIES (PNF) STRETCHING EXERCISE ON FREQUENCY CONTENT OF HAMSTRING MUSCLES

Tapping of an organ is like an elastic splint, which prevents the occurrence of injuries. Also, PNF stretching exercises increase muscle flexibility. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the immediate effects of inhibitory and excitatory kinesiotaping methods versus proprioceptive neuromuscular facilities (PNF) stretching exercises on the frequency content of hamstring muscles.

Methods & Materials: 

G*Power software was used to estimate the sample size. In this semi-experimental study, 15 female taekwondo subjects were selected as available. The criteria for entering the research included an age range of 15-25 years and having experience in taekwondo for at least 2 years. Exclusion criteria from the research were having a history of injury in the lower limb, using kinesiotape or PNF training in the last 2 years. All stages of the present research were conducted ethically according to the Declaration of Helsinki. Subjects performed the Doliochagi movement in four conditions: without taping and PNF stretching training, with excitatory taping, with inhibitory taping, and after PNF stretching exercise. A wireless 8-channel system was used to record the electrical activity of the hamstring muscles during the Doliochagi movement. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA with repeated measures. The significance level was equal to 0.05.

The results showed a significant difference in the frequency of the biceps femoris muscle during the without taping and PNF condition compared with inhibitory (p=0.032) and excitatory (p=0.034) taping during the Doliochagi movement.

The results of our study indicated that the frequency of biceps brachii muscle activity increased when using inhibitory and excitatory taping compared to conditions without taping and PNF training. This increase in muscle frequency is associated with long-term muscle strengthening, which in turn reduces the likelihood of muscle injury.