Does Dynamic Tape (trademark) change hip muscle activity and function in healthy females during walking and running?

Volunteers will be given an information sheet outlining the requirements for participation in the study. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to ask any questions pertaining to the study and once satisfied will sign a consent form. Participants will then fill in a General Health and Physical Activity questionnaire, and the researcher will record their height, weight, dominant leg and age on this questionnaire. Participants will be informed that 2 taping conditions will be assessed, without differentiating which tape is the experimental condition and randomly allocated to the order in which they receive the conditions: no tape, experimental tape (Dynamic Tape (trademark)), placebo tape (Dynamic Tape (trademark)), or; no tape, placebo tape, experimental tape. Surface EMG electrodes will be applied to the self-nominated dominant leg of the participant. EMG will measure the recruitment of gluteus medius, gluteus maximus and tensor fascia latae. Skin preparation and electrode placement protocol will be applied according to internationally recognised guidelines (Surface ElectroMyoGraphy for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles (SENIAM)). Wireless EMG sensors (Wave PLUS 16 Ch, Commeta Systems, Italy) will be attached to each electrode, with data sampled at 2000 Hz. EMG signals will be adjusted for direct current offset, full wave rectification and filtered with a high pass Butterworth filter with a cut-off of 20 Hz. Each stride will be time normalised to 100 data points and data normalised to the maximum signal magnitude during the running phase of the no-tape condition. For each stride the mean and peak amplitude for stance and swing phase will be obtained. Assessment 1 - Baseline A blinded assessor will use 3D motion analysis (Vicon from Oxford Metrics, UK) to assess joint kinematics, applying a ‘cluster model’ outlined by Besier et al. (2003). Retro-reflective markers will be fixed to the participant using double-sided tape and secured using hypoallergenic adhesive tape (Fixomull, Smith & Nephew). Marker locations include; anterior superior iliac spine, posterior superior iliac spine, 3-marker ‘cluster’ on the long axis of the femur and tibia, lateral and medial malleolus, calcaneus, first and fifth metatarsal head. A static trial will be conducted to ensure the proper functioning of both the EMG electrodes and Vicon markers. The participant will then walk on the treadmill at a self-selected pace for 5 minutes to warm up. To assess muscle recruitment and joint kinematics, the participant will walk on a treadmill at a self-selected pace for 3 minutes, where EMG and Vicon measures will be recorded continuously from 90 sec - 150 sec. The participant will then increase the treadmill to a self-selected running pace for 3 minutes, where EMG and Vicon measures will be recorded during the same interval. The self-selected walking and running paces will be recorded and used for all further treadmill assessments. At the conclusion of baseline assessments, the first taping condition will be applied. To minimise error, EMG electrodes and Vicon markers will remain in situ throughout the trial. Assessment 2. Taping condition 1 or 2 Taping condition: Experimental tape– Two parallel double-layered lengths of 7.5cm width elastic tape (Dynamic Tape (trademark)) will be applied as a spiral technique to the hip and thigh with the participant positioned (standing) in maximal combined hip extension, abduction and external rotation. The tape will commence on the anteromedial aspect of the distal thigh approximately 10cm above the medial joint line of the knee. It will extend superiorly in a posterolateral direction, and travel behind the mid thigh to surface on the anteromedial aspect of the proximal thigh. As the tape continues in a proximal direction it will pass inferior and posterior to the greater trochanter and finish on the iliac crest of the contralateral limb. As per the manufacturer’s recommendations, an anchor point of > 4 inches proximally and distally will have no tension applied to the tape (to minimise skin irritation) while the rest of the tape’s length will be stretched to the onset of its resistance only. Participants will be given warnings regarding the potential for skin reactions to tape. In addition their skin will be monitored by the researchers throughout the test procedure and the tape will be immediately removed if any adverse effects are demonstrated. Following application of the tape the walking and running assessments will be repeated following the protocol that was used for the baseline assessments. The participants’ previously selected pace for the walk and run will be used during this assessment. At the completion of the running phase, participants will have the taping condition removed and perform a washout walk (90 sec) and run (90 sec), with Vicon and EMG recordings taken continuously from (15 sec - 75 sec) during both walk and run phases. Assessment 3. Taping condition 2 or 1 Taping condition: Placebo tape – The placebo taping technique is identical to the experimental taping technique except that the tape will be applied with no stretch and in neutral standing position in order to minimise its biomechanical influence during gait. Following application of the second taping condition the walking and running assessments will be repeated following the protocol that was used for the baseline assessments. All tape applications and test sessions will be supervised by a physiotherapist and/or exercise physiologist/biomechanist trained in the use of the techniques and equipment.