Strength and Muscle Activation of Runners Quadriceps After 8 Weeks of Intervention With Elastic Bandage

Strength and Muscle Activation of Runners Quadriceps After Eight Weeks of Intervention With Elastic Bandage - A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

It is a controlled and randomized clinical trial with the objective of verifying the acute and chronic effects (8 weeks) of elastic banding in runners. Thus, we have as hypotheses of this research: The elastic bandage indirectly influences the muscular strength to the extent that it supposedly can alter the muscular activation verified through the surface electromyography in individuals submitted to the training as the running training. The elastic bandage has clinical significance, however, it does not present statistical significance on muscle strength and activation in individuals submitted to training as running training. To confirm these hypotheses, the muscle strength of the flexors and extensors of the right knee will be checked by means of the isokinetic dynamometer and the muscular activation of the extensors of the right knee (rectus femoris muscle) will be assessed by means of surface electromyography. The elastic bandage will be applied according to a specific protocol in "I" over the muscular belly of the right femoral rectus muscle (which will be submitted to evaluations). All participants will be evaluated without applying adhesive tape and will receive the first application of the tape without tension. Then, after 20 minutes of rest, they will be reassessed with the tape. Participants will be randomized into two groups and both will receive the adhesive tape (with or without tension according to randomization). Then the evaluations will be repeated (all will be reevaluated without the tape and with the tape (with or without tension according to the protocol).

It is a controlled and randomized clinical trial in order to verify the acute and chronic effects (8 weeks of application) of the elastic bandage in runners. hus, we have as hypotheses of this research: The elastic bandage indirectly influences the muscular strength to the extent that it supposedly can alter the muscular activation verified through the surface electromyography in individuals submitted to the training as the running training. The elastic bandage has clinical significance, however, it does not present statistical significance on muscle strength and activation in individuals submitted to training as running training. To confirm these hypotheses, the muscle strength of the flexors and extensors of the right knee will be checked by means of the isokinetic dynamometer and the muscular activation of the extensors of the right knee (rectus femoris muscle) will be assessed by means of surface electromyography. The elastic bandage will be applied according to a specific protocol in "I" over the muscular belly of the right femoral rectus muscle (which will be submitted to evaluations). Initially all participants will be evaluated without applying adhesive tape and, in sequence, they will receive the first application of the tape (for all participants, the tape will be applied without tension) and after 20 minutes of rest, they will be reassessed with the application of the adhesive tape . After the initial assessment, participants will be randomized into two groups and both will receive adhesive tape. The FT (free tension) group will have no tension in any of its tape applications; and the WT (with tension) group will have progressive tension over 8 weeks of intervention (with reduction of the tape length over the weeks, in relation to the same size of the applied area, which generates a longitudinal tension of the tape in relation to skin of the participant). In the eighth and last week of intervention, before the last application of the tape, everyone will be evaluated again (strength and muscle activation) without the tape. Then, the last application of the tape will be performed with or without tension (according to their respective groups) and after 20 minutes of rest, the evaluation of all participants will be performed again with the last application of the tape to the rectus femoris muscle.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. being between 18 and 60 years old;
2. being physically able to participate in the experimental study;
3. being completely independent in carrying out basic activities of daily living;
4. not having a physical, hearing or visual impairment that prevents the exams from being performed or making use of prostheses or orthopedic orthoses;
5. having no history of injury to the knee, ankle or hip;
6. has no allergy to elastic bandages;
7. having time to participate in the interventions;
8. has no cognitive impairment according to the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE);
9. has a training frequency of at least twice a week for more than three months.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Participants who fail to complete evaluations and/or interventions for any reason
2. Participants who, for some reason, decide to withdraw consent for the research will be excluded.