Influence of Hamstring Facilitatory Taping on Knee Muscle Activation and Dynamic Balance in Patients with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficient Knee

SUMMARY Background. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency affects proprioception, motor control, and dynamic balance. Stretch or Kinesio taping is one of the techniques hypothesized to address these deficits. However, there is limited objective evidence demonstrating the use of hamstring facilitatory taping in ACL deficient population. Methods. This feasibility study with a pre/post experimental design was conduct-ed on twenty patients with ACL deficient. The surface EMG activity was recorded from semitendinosus, biceps femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis muscles during rest, walking, stair climbing and single leg hopping with and without taping. Dynamic balance was assessed using SEBT with and without taping. Results. There was a statistically significant decrease in dynamic balance and EMG muscle activation with no additional improvement observed in biceps femoris and vastus lateralis muscles during the activities included in this study. Conclusions. In this study no immediate improvement in muscle activation and dynamic balance was found with a single session of hamstring facilitatory taping. Trial registration. Clinical trial registry of India. The number of registration is (CTRI/2018/07/014796).