Effects of Agility Training with Kinesio Taping on Muscle Tone, Muscle Strength Lower Extremity and Dynamic Stability in Women Softball Players

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of agility training with kinesio taping (ATKT) on muscle tone, muscle strength lower extremity and dynamic stability of women softball players. Design: Two groups pre-post randomized controlled design Methods: 34 softball players were recruited randomly assigned into the ATKT group and agility training with sham kinesio taping (control group). All subjects performed agility training for 30 min/day, 5 times/week for 4 weeks. The subjects in the ATKT group underwent agility trainingwith kinesio taping on vastus madialis, vastus medialis, rectus femoris, and vastus lateralis where the subects in the control group underwent agility trainingwith sham kinseio taping. Muscle tone was measured using myotonPRO. A Hand dynamometer was used to evaluate muscle strengthening of lower -extremity. Dynamic stability was measured using the side hop test. Results: Muscle tone of lower-extremity was significantly more increased in the ATKT group (mean change 0.39 ± 0.31) than in the control group (mean change 0.19 ± 0.31) (p＜0.05). Muscle strength of lower-extremity was significantly more increased in the ATKT group than in the control group (p＜0.05). Dynamic stability was significantly more increased in the ATKT group (mean change －1.39 ±0.45) than in the control group (mean change －0.60 ± 0.46) (p＜0.05). Conclusions: We confirmed that the benefits that ATKT is effective for increasing in softball players and suggested that knee joint kinesio taping. Also, it was observed improvement of muscle tone, muscle strength and Dynamic stability.