26 research outputs found
Does the Direction of Kinesiology Tape Application Influence Muscle Activation in Asymptomatic Individuals?
# Background
Despite the popularity of tape among athletes and rehabilitation practitioners, there is controversy regarding the specific effects of kinesiology tape. Based on conflicting results and limitations of the literature, a well-designed study was desired to examine kinesiology tape application direction on muscle activation.
# Hypothesis/Purpose
The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if the direction of kinesiology tape application influences quadriceps activation. This study compared taping techniques with outcome measures selected to assess quadriceps muscle activation. The outcome measures included EMG, isokinetic strength, and functional hop and jump performance.
# Study Design
Double-blind Crossover study
# Methods
A total of fifteen asymptomatic participants (10 females and 5 males) completed the study. Mean age was 23.3 years. Kinesio^Ⓡ^ Tex Gold^TM^ was applied to the dominant lower extremity of each participant using a Y-strip method. Two taping conditions (proximal to distal, distal to proximal) were applied to the quadriceps. Participants and testers were blinded to tape condition. Pretest and posttest measures included electromyographic output during isokinetic testing of quadriceps muscle torque at 60°s^-1^ and 120°s^-1^, single leg triple hop for distance, and vertical jump.
# Results
Two-way, repeated measures analysis of variance resulted in no significant differences in baseline to taped condition for quadriceps electromyographic output, quadriceps isokinetic knee extension muscle torque at 60°s^-1^ and 120°s^-1^, single leg triple-hop distance or vertical jump height.
# Conclusion
The results of this pilot study do not support the hypothesis that kinesiology tape application direction influences muscle performance as measured in this study.
# Levels of Evidence
Level 1 – Controlled Clinical Trial
# Clinical Relevance
Kinesiology tape is commonly used as an intervention for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions and for promoting performance including sporting activities. Kinesiology tape is popular among athletes and health care providers yet the specific effects of tape are not well understood
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Conduction of impulses by axons regenerated in a Schwann cell graft in the transected adult rat thoracic spinal cord
Central nervous system axons regenerate into a Schwann cell implant placed in the transected thoracic spinal cord of an adult rat. The present study was designed to test whether these regenerated axons are capable of conducting action potentials. Following the transection and removal of a 4‐ to 5‐mm segment of the thoracic spinal cord (T8–T9), a polymer guidance channel filled with a mixture of adult rat Schwann cells and Matrigel was grafted into a 4‐ to 5‐mm‐long gap in the transected thoracic spinal cord. The two cut ends of the spinal cord were eased into the guidance channel openings. Transected control animals received a channel containing Matrigel only. Three months after implantation, electrophysiological studies were performed. Tungsten microelectrodes were used for monopolar stimulation of regenerated axons within the Schwann cell graft. Glass microelectrodes were used to record responses in the spinal cord rostral to the stimulation site. Evoked responses to electrical stimulation of the axon cable were found in two out of nine Schwann cell‐grafted animals. These responses had approximate latencies in the range of those of myelinated axons. No responses were seen in any of the Matrigel‐grafted animals. Histological analysis revealed that the two cases that showed evoked potentials had the largest number of myelinated axons present in the cable. This study demonstrates that axons regenerating through Schwann cell grafts in the complete transected spinal cord can produce measurable evoked responses following electrical stimulation. J. Neurosci. Res. 64:533–541, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc
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Isoflurane-induced attenuation of motor evoked potentials caused by electrical motor cortex stimulation during surgery
✓ Dysfunction of spinal motor conduction during surgical procedures may not be reflected by changes in somatosensory evoked potential waveforms. A method of monitoring that allows direct and continuous assessment of motor function within the central nervous system during surgery would be useful. This paper describes one such method utilizing noninvasive electric cortical stimulation to evoke muscle activity (the motor evoked potential, or MEP) during surgery. The effect of isoflurane (superimposed on a baseline of N2O/narcotic anesthesia) on MEP's in response to cortical stimulation is specifically examined. Eight patients undergoing elective neurosurgical operations were included in the study. All patients received a background of general anesthesia and partial nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockade. The motor cortex was stimulated electrically via self-adhesive scalp electrodes. Electromyographic responses from multiple muscles were measured with subdermal electroencephalograph-type needle electrodes. Motor responses to stimulation were continually recorded on magnetic tape for off-line analysis. Once closing of the surgical incision was begun, a series of four to five stimuli of constant magnitude were applied to obtain “baseline” MEP responses. Patients were then ventilated with isoflurane for up to 8 minutes, during which time stimuli were continued every 15 to 20 seconds. Comparison was made of MEP responses for trials before, 1 minute after, and 5 minutes after the addition of isoflurane. All patients demonstrated reproducible motor responses to cortical stimulation during surgery. Addition of isoflurane ((isoflurane)exp, ≤ 0.5%) to pre-existing anesthesia caused marked attenuation of MEP amplitudes in all patients within 5 minutes of its application, without affecting neuromuscular transmission as judged by direct peripheral nerve stimulation. It is concluded that: 1) monitoring motor system integrity and function with electric transcranial cortical stimulation during surgery is feasible when utilizing an N2O/narcotic anesthetic protocol; and 2) the quality of data obtained will likely suffer with the addition of isoflurane