Background: Kinesio taping is used either as a single therapeutic procedure or in combination with other procedures in treatment of various musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders. It is supposed to enhance joint position sense and balance. The purpose of our research was to study the immediate effect of kinesio tape on balance and joint position sense. Methods: Thirty healthy subjects performed a joint position sense test for three target angles and single leg stance test in 4 conditions without and with kinesio tape applied on the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles. Results: Statistically significant differences between taped and non-taped conditions were found only for joint position sense at 10° dorsiflexion and single leg stance test on a firm surface with eyes closed. Conclusions: The convolutions and tension of the skin caused by kinesio tape may stimulate skin mechanoreceptors in the calf area, which contribute to increase of joint position sense. Information acquired by application of kinesio tape seems to have useful effect on balance only in the eyes closed condition, when control of balance by somatosensory and vestibular systems is enhanced.
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