Application of kinesiology taping to equine abdominal musculature in a tension frame for muscle facilitation increases longitudinal activity at the trot.
Authors: Biau Sophie, Burgaud Isabelle
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Kinesiology Taping and Equine Abdominal Muscle Activity Kinesiology taping (KT) has gained popularity in equine sports medicine, yet the mechanisms underlying its effects remain poorly understood and its benefits contested. Biau and Burgaud investigated whether facilitated KT applied to abdominal muscles would alter locomotor parameters in eleven horses using a cross-over design, comparing a tension-based KT application against a control tape, with gait analysis performed before and after lungeing using triaxial accelerometry (Equimetrix system®). Applied to the abdominal musculature in a facilitation frame, KT produced significantly elevated longitudinal activity at trot—the primary indicator of propulsive engagement—both before lungeing (7.6 vs. 5.4 W/kg; P = .02) and after exercise (7.3 vs. 6.1 W/kg; P = .005), with effects persisting across the training session. Since longitudinal activity represents a desirable quality in athletic horses, reflecting improved thrust generation during movement, this application offers practitioners a potentially valuable adjunct to training programmes, though the authors appropriately caution that findings from in-hand work require validation under ridden conditions before broader clinical recommendations can be made.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Kinesiology taping applied with tension to abdominal muscles may enhance longitudinal activity at trot, a desirable quality for training, though effects are modest (1-2 W/kg improvement)
- •This technique could be integrated into training programs as a non-invasive enhancement method, though current evidence is limited to in-hand work on straight lines
- •Further research is needed before recommending this under saddle or in ridden work; individual variation in response and long-term effects remain unclear
Key Findings
- •Kinesiology taping with facilitation tension on abdominal muscles significantly increased longitudinal activity at trot compared to non-tension application (7.6 ± 1.8 W/kg vs. 5.4 ± 2.2 W/kg before lungeing, P = 0.02)
- •The increase in longitudinal activity persisted after lungeing exercise (7.3 ± 1.3 W/kg vs. 6.1 ± 1.7 W/kg, P = 0.005)
- •No significant changes were reported in stride frequency, regularity, symmetry, or dorsoventral displacement
- •Benefits were detectable within 30 minutes of tape application and remained present post-exercise