Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the acute effect of Kinesio taping on abdominal endurance, limits of stability, and postural stability in parity women with diastasis recti abdominis.
Methods: Around 17 parity women who had at least 2 cm inter-recti distance at one or more points of the linea alba related to pregnancy participated in the study. Inter-recti distance was assessed with a caliper. Before and immediately after Kinesio taping application, the static abdominal flexion endurance test, postural stability test, and limits of stability test were performed. Kinesio taping was applied to all participants along with rectus abdominis muscles, obliquely crossing the midline of the linea alba. Repeated measure analysis of variance test was utilized to determine the difference between the static abdominal flexion endurance test, postural stability, and limits of stability scores before and after Kinesio taping.
Results: The static abdominal flexion test and limits of stability test scores showed statistically significant improvements after Kinesio taping application (F = 16.826, P = .001, ηp 2 = 0.564 and F = 9.262, P = .012, ηp 2 = 0.481, respectively). Postural stability test scores did not present any significant alterations after Kinesio taping application (P > .05).
Conclusion: The present study revealed that Kinesio taping improved abdominal endurance and limits of stability immediately after application but did not create any acute effect on postural stability in women with diastasis recti abdominis. We conclude that Kinesio taping may be an effective tool in the therapy of women with diastasis recti abdominis. Further studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects of Kinesio taping on diastasis recti abdominis.
Cite this article as: Denizoğlu Kulli H, Alpay K. Acute effects of kinesio taping on women with diastasis recti abdominis. Arch Health Sci Res. 2023;10(1):26-29.