Immediate effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and kinesiology tape on lower-limb joint proprioception and body balance in healthy older adults

• Published in: Asian journal of gerontology and geriatrics Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 33
• Main Authors: Fong, Shirley S M, Tong, Raymond K Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hong Kong Hong Kong Academy of Medicine 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Ankle; Balance; Joints; Older people; Physical fitness
• ISSN: 1819-1576; 1819-1576

Background: An age-related decline in lower-limb joint proprioception and body balance increases the risk of falls in older adults. This study examined the acute effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and kinesiology tape (KT) on lower-limb joint proprioception, static single-leg standing balance performance, and limits of stability balance performance in healthy older adults. Methods: From January to February 2023, 24 healthy older adults were recruited from the community using convenience sampling. They received TENS or sham TENS and/or KT or sham tape applied to their knee and ankle joints while undergoing an active joint angle repositioning test, a single-leg standing balance test on a force platform, and a functional reach test. The outcome measures were bilateral knee and ankle joint repositioning errors, centre of pressure sway path length and velocity, functional reach test score, and forefoot weight load. Results: The application of both TENS and KT reduced left knee joint repositioning errors by 0.94° (p=0.044) and 0.85° (p=0.020), compared with applying KT alone or TENS alone, respectively. No significant main or interaction effects were demonstrated for other outcome measures. Conclusion: Applying TENS and KT to the lower-limb joints immediately improved knee joint proprioception but did not improve ankle joint proprioception in older adults. The application of TENS and/or KT had no immediate effects on balance performance in older adults. Therefore, TENS and KT may be applied as prophylactic measures to prevent agerelated decline in knee joint proprioception. TENS and KT, when applied to the knee and ankle joints, have no immediate effects on balance performance in healthy older adults.