Effect of balance taping on trunk stabilizer muscles for back extensor muscle endurance: A randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in back extensor muscle endurance before and after kinesiology tape application to all back stabilizer muscles and to the erector spinae alone. METHODS: We assessed 32 adults (16 men and 16 women), randomly divided into two groups. In the erector spinae taping (EST) group, kinesiology tape was applied only to the erector spinae, and in the total muscle taping (TMT) group, kinesiology tape was applied to the erector spinae, latissimus dorsi, lower trapezius, internal oblique abdominis, and external oblique abdominis. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant difference in terms of back extensor muscle endurance after kinesiology tape application (p<0.05). Between-group comparison revealed that the TMT group had more back extensor muscle endurance than the EST group (p<0.05) after kinesiology tape application. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that, to improve back extensor muscle endurance, kinesiology tape should be applied to all back stabilizer muscles, rather than to the erector spinae muscles alone.