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Postural taping decreases thoracic kyphosis but does not influence trunk muscle electromyographic activity or balance in women with osteoporosis.

Greig AM, Bennell KL, Briggs AM, Hodges PW

Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia. a.greig@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au

BACKGROUND: Greater thoracic kyphosis is associated with increased biomechanical loading of the spine which is potentially problematic in individuals with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Conservative interventions that reduce thoracic kyphosis warrant further investigation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of therapeutic postural taping on thoracic posture. Secondary aims explored the effects of taping on trunk muscle activity and balance. METHODS: Fifteen women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures participated in this within-participant design study. Three taping conditions were randomly applied: therapeutic taping, control taping and no taping. Angle of thoracic kyphosis was measured after each condition. Force plate-derived balance parameters and trunk muscle electromyographic activity (EMG) were recorded during three static standing tasks of 40s duration. RESULTS: There was a significant main effect of postural taping on thoracic kyphosis (p=0.026), with a greater reduction in thoracic kyphosis after taping compared with both control tape and no tape. There were no effects of taping on EMG or balance parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that the application of postural therapeutic tape in a population with osteoporotic vertebral fractures induced an immediate reduction in thoracic kyphosis. Further research is needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms associated with this decrease in kyphosis.

Published 14 April 2008 in Man Ther, 13(3): 249-57.
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