Evaluating the short term effects of kinesiology taping and stretching of gastrocnemius on postural control: A randomized clinical trial

Introduction: The ability to maintain balance is essential for both remaining in the standing position and preventing falls. Physical therapy techniques such as kinesiology taping (KT) and stretching are considered to be effective measures in ameliorating balance issues. However, there is no available study comparing the effects of these two methods on postural control. Thus, the current study aims to investigate and compare the efficacy of interventions accomplished through these methods on young and elderly subjects. Method: In a single-blind randomized clinical trial, 40 young subjects (<30 years) and 40 elderly subjects (>60 years) were randomly assigned to two groups of KT and stretching. In the first group, inhibitory tape was applied to the gastrocnemius muscle. In the second group, 60 s of stretch was repeated 4 times. The static balance was evaluated before and after the interventions using the single-leg standing (SLS) test along with measurements of the velocity and displacement of the center of pressure by the force plate. Results: Based on the Mann-Whitney test, there were no significant differences between the tape and stretching techniques in the study variables of either group of participants, before and after the interventions (p > 0.05). However, the results of the Wilcoxon test showed a significant increase in single-leg stance time in the stretching group in the elderly subjects (p = 0.03). MANOVA results demonstrated significant group and time effects only in the SLS parameter (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Stretching the gastrocnemius seems to be more efficacious than KT for improving balance problems in older adults. Level of evidence: II. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.