Influence of Kinesio Taping on the Motor Neuron Conduction Velocity

[Purpose] The objective of this study was to investigate whether Kinesio taping (KT) exerts influence on the motor nerve conduction velocity. [Subjects and Methods] Seventeen healthy participants (male 9, female 8) with no pathology or past history of a peripheral and central neuropathy who were working at the Jinju Seran hospital voluntarily participated in this study. Their mean age was 34.3 years (range=25-52 years), their mean height was 167.1 cm (range=158-177 cm), and their mean weight was 56.9 kg (range=45-73 kg). All participants received bipolar percutaneous stimulation by orthodromic conduction delivered by a EP/EMG system (MEB-9200, Nihon Kohden, Japan) with a pulse duration of under 1 ms. Ulnar and median nerves were stimulated with 20 mA and the radial nerve was stimulated with 30mA. The motor nerve conduction velocity was measured with and without the application of KT. [Results] Statistically, there were no significant differences between with and without KT in the latency, amplitude, and motor nerve conduction velocity of the median, ulnar, and radial nerves. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest that Kinesio taping neither increases nor decreases motor nerve conduction velocity.