Breathing Under Tape—Effects of Kinesio Taping on Respiratory Parameters in the Normal Population: An Integrative Review

Due to its continuous cutaneous sensory stimulation, KT is suggested to facilitate neuromuscular functions by improving proprioceptive feedback, thus complementing the established methods of respiratory training.Investigating KT and other adjunctive techniques in healthy individuals is crucial, as it provides an opportunity to investigate their isolated physiological effects without confounding effects from disease-related factors.Furthermore, understanding normative responses and mechanistic insights in healthy populations provides a necessary foundation for the informed integration of KT into preventive, performance-oriented, and rehabilitative physiotherapy practice.Therefore, this integrative review aims to critically evaluate the available evidence on the effects of KT application on respiratory IntroductIonThe effectiveness of respiratory muscles has been regarded as an important factor for the efficiency of ventilation and exercise performance among healthy individuals.The diaphragm, working together with the intercostal and accessory respiratory muscles, is responsible for the production of the necessary pressures for efficient pulmonary ventilation and sustaining the thoracoabdominal synchrony.However, sufficient strength and endurance, as well as neuromuscular coordination of respiratory muscles, have been considered an integral part of respiration at rest and for enhancing the metabolic and ventilatory demands during exercise performance, either high-exertion or low-exertion physical activity.1,2 Although respiratory muscle dysfunction is commonly examined in pathological conditions, research indicates that suboptimal performance of respiratory muscles could limit ventilatory performance and increase the work of breathing, as well as compromise muscular performance, particularly during highintensity or prolonged exertion.Consequently, interventions aimed at enhancing respiratory muscle performance have gained attention as strategies to optimize functional capacity, delay the onset of respiratory muscle fatigue, and improve overall physical performance.Conventional approaches to enhancing respiratory muscles' functioning in a nondiseased population have focused on inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and breathing retraining techniques.In recent years, growing attention has been directed toward neuromuscular control, proprioceptive control, and biomechanical efficiency of the thoracoabdominal pump.Elastic therapeutic taping, especially Kinesio Taping (KT), has emerged as a low-cost, noninvasive modality with promising potential to enhance respiratory muscle activity and coordination.