in modern society , horse racing is a spectator sport which involves entertainment and 
 speculation , and is developing into a popular leisure sport , which can provide relief to 
 spectator from stress and frustration . competitive sporting activities , including horse 
 racing , may cause damage and injury due to overload of the body , resulting in shortening of 
 a jockey 's lives1 . horse racing is 
 performed by jockeys and horses in harmony with one another , and involves a relatively high 
 risk of various injuries associated with falls from a horse . therefore , in order to achieve 
 the best athletic performance , strict self - control , including weight control , and high 
 physical strength for control of extreme tension and speed , is essential for jockeys2 , 3 . injury of jockeys due to diverse internal / external causes is a frequent occurrence in many 
 sporting activities . in sporting events where jockeys have physical contact with their 
 opponents , falls from a horse may result in death , cerebral concussion , physical handicaps , major 
 organ ruptures , fractures due to damage to the musculoskeletal system , bruises , laceration , 
 desmorrhexis , dislocation , cutting , and damage to the vertebrae and diverse body regions , 
 and , in particular , frequent occurrence of injury in the lumbar region , cervicospinal area , 
 head , face , and knee joints has been reported3 . horse racing jockeys sit or adopt an upright , straight - legged 
 posture6 which serves important roles in 
 maintaining the stability of the spine and fixing the riding postures to prevent falls from 
 a horse . therefore , knee joint muscle strength , which bears weight loads and serves 
 important roles in maintaining stability , preventing damage , and performing normal 
 functions7 , is essential . in jockeys ' 
 training for improvement of their athletic performance , isotonic exercise , isokinetic exercise is 
 very effective at reinforcing muscle strength and presents objective and reliable data in 
 the process of rehabilitation when the musculoskeletal system has been damaged8 . wi seung - du and seo yeong - hwan9 reported that the application of femoral 
 taping had a positive effect on isokinetic muscle function and muscle fatigue . in addition 
 many previous studies have reported diverse results from the application of kinesio taping . 
 however , study of the prevention of injury or improvement of athletic performance conducted 
 with horse racing jockeys , who are subject to risk of various kinds of injury or damage 
 related to falls from a horse , are insufficient . the current study examined changes in isokinetic knee joint muscle strength of horse racing 
 jockeys after application of kinesio taping to the knee joint region , for prevention of 
 injury and for improvement of their athletic performance . the subjects of this study were eight male horse racing jockeys , who were selected from 
 among those who did not have paresthesia , motor abnormality , history of 
 nervous / muscular / skeletal system disease , or contraindications against the tape . the 
 subjects understood the intent of the study and agreed to participate after listening to 
 explanations regarding experiment and procedures prior to the conduct of the experiment . the 
 subjects ' mean age was 29  3.964 yrs , and they had a mean height of 155.38  2.659  cm , and 
 a mean weight of 49.75  2.659 kg . the present study was approved by sahmyook university institutional review board , and 
 written consent was received from the subjects . the following experimental tools were used : 
 5 and 7.5-cm - wide kinesio elastic tapes ( nippon sigmax co. , japan ) , and a biodex system3 
 ( biodex medical system inc . ) . a preliminary experiment , which included 10 horse racing jockeys , was performed to test for 
 allegic reaction to the tape , and for testing of isokinetic knee joint muscle strength 
 ( lower extremity muscle strength and muscle evaluation ) . when the subjects arrived at the laboratory , they took a rest , then briefly 
 performed warm - up exercises . a biodex instrument was used to measure of isokinetic muscle 
 strength at angular velocities of 60/sec and 180/sec10 before application of kinesio tape . measurement load speeds were 
 set based on measurement load speeds effective for muscle function evaluation reported by a 
 previous study which considered protocols suitable for the purpose of the test11 . after the measurements , the subjects rested before kinesio tapes were applied to four 
 muscle regions . one end of a kinesio 
 tape was attached to the origin of the rectus femoris muscle , and the tape was attached 
 along the rectus femoris muscle up to the knee region . then , the knee was bent and a y shape 
 tape was attached to the patella region as if wrapping the knee . then , the end of the foot was turned 
 laterally , the leg was spread laterally , and the insertion of the vastus medialis was 
 wrapped by the tape . next the knee was bent and the tape was attached to the bottom of the 
 patella . one end of a 
 kinesio tape was attached to the origin of the vastus lateralis , and the tape was attached 
 to the vastus lateralis toward the insertion of the vastus lateralis . then , the knee was 
 bent and the tape was attached to the bottom of the patella . one end of a kinesio tape 
 was attached to the origin of the hamstring , the leg to which the tape was attached was 
 taken down from the bed and one end of the y shaped tape was attached to the insertion of 
 the biceps femoris muscle . then , the tape was attached to the leg toward the insertions of 
 the semitendinous and the semimembranosis in a y shape . in the current experiment , 7.5-cm - wide kinesio elastic tape ( nippon sigmax co. japan ) was 
 applied without being stretched to two muscle regions the rectus femoris muscle , and the 
 hamstring . five - centimeter kinesio elastic tape ( nippon sigmax co. japan ) was applied 
 without being stretched to two muscle regions the vastus medialis muscle , and the vastus 
 lateralis muscle , with the knee in maximal extension . measurement of muscle strength was 
 repeated at the angular velocities of 60/sec and 180/sec . * p<0.05 , r : right , l : left %:[(after the experimentbefore the experiment)before the experiment]100 . * p<0.05 , r : right , l : left table 1 shows descriptive statistics and t - test 
 results for the peak torque at knee joint angular speeds of 60/sec and 180/sec , before and 
 after the application of kinesio tape . at 60/sec , peak torque of the right extensor was 
 131.50  18.18 before , and 137.50  17.40 after the application of kinesio tape , a 
 statistically significant difference ( p=0.004 ) , and that of the right flexor was 67.38  
 9.26 before , and 75.38  11.88 after the application of kinesio tape , a statistically 
 significant difference ( p=0.012 ) . at 60/sec , peak torque of the left extensor was 122.50  
 9.07 before , and 132.50  12.88 after the application of kinesio tape , a statistically 
 significant difference ( p=0.004 ) , and that of the left flexor was 59.88  13.10 before and 
 74.13  10.70 after the application of kinesio tape , a statistically significant difference 
 ( p=0.043 ) . at 180/sec , peak torque of the right extensor was 86.00  11.48 before , and 
 90.13  12.65 after the application of kinesio tape , a statistically significant difference 
 ( p=0.033 ) , and that of the right flexor was 50.75  6.52 before , and 56.63  9.67 after 
 application of kinesio tape , a statistically significant difference ( p=0.024 ) . at 180/sec , 
 peak torque of the left extensor was 82.38  10.32 before , and 88.63  11.71 after the 
 application of kinesio tape , a statistically significant difference ( p=0.002 ) , and that of 
 the left flexor was 45.88  7.376 before , and 56.00  8.49 after the application of kinesio 
 tape , a statistically significant difference ( p=0.002 ) . * p<0.05 , r : right , l : left table 2 shows descriptive statistics and t - test 
 results for the average torque during knee joint movements at angular speeds of 60/sec and 
 180/sec , before and after the application of kinesio tape . the average torque at 60/sec of 
 the right extensor was 82.38  10.93 before , and 90.75  13.12 after the application of 
 kinesio tape , a statistically significant difference ( p=0.005 ) , and that of the right flexor 
 was 50.38  3.50 before , and 56.50  5.07 after the application of kinesio tape , a 
 statistically significant difference ( p=0.003 ) . at 60/sec , average torque of the left 
 extensor was 76.75  13.87 before , and 86.00  11.01 after the application of kinesio tape 
 and statistically significant difference ( p=0.006 ) , and that of the left flexor was 47.75  
 9.362 before , and 54.63  8.02 after the application of kinesio tape , a statistically 
 significant difference ( p=0.005 ) . at 180/sec , average torque of the right extensor was 
 130.13  22.01 before , and 139.63  22.56 after the application of kinesio tape , a 
 statistically significant difference ( p=0.001 ) , and that of the right flexor was 77.75  
 12.15 before , and 90.88  13.64 after the application of kinesio tape , a statistically 
 significant difference ( p=0.008 ) . at 180/sec , average torque of the left extensor was 
 122.50  28.83 before , and 136.13  23.56 after the application of kinesio tape , a 
 statistically significant difference ( p=0.014 ) , and that of the left flexor was 70.63  
 14.85 before , and 87.63  13.13 after the application of kinesio tape , a statistically 
 significant difference ( p=0.004 ) . table 3 shows descriptive statistics and t - test 
 results for the total work done during performance of isokinetic knee joint movements at 
 knee joint angular speeds of 60/sec and 180/sec , before and after the application of 
 kinesio tape . the total work at 60/sec of the right extensor was 496.75  82.51 before , and 
 552.50  88.09 after the application of kinesio tape , a statistically significant difference 
 ( p=0.008 ) , and that of the right flexor was 305.88  42.58 before , and 327.75  44.13 after 
 the application of kinesio tape , a significant difference ( p=0.008 ) . at 60/sec , total work of the left extensor was 458.38  84.23 before , and 516.75  56.99 
 after the application of kinesio tape , a statistically significant difference ( p=0.002 ) , and 
 that of the left flexor was 288.63  47.52 before , and 308.00  52.04 after the application 
 of kinesio tape , a statistically significant difference ( p=0.017 ) . at 180/sec , total work 
 of the right extensor was 1574.50  277.37 before , and 1666.25  239.94 after the 
 application of kinesio tape , a statistically significant difference ( p=0.001 ) , and that of 
 the right flexor was 1029.63  100.27 before , and 1146.13  118.14 after the application of 
 kinesio tape , a statistically significant difference ( p=0.048 ) . at 180/sec , total work of 
 the left extensor was 1522.63  313.76 before , and 1634.88  254.45 after the application of 
 kinesio tape , a statistically significant difference ( p=0.017 ) , and that of the left flexor 
 was 900.75  200.63 before , and 1122.38  140.67 after the application of kinesio tape , a 
 statistically significant difference ( p=0.017 ) . for jockeys , the physical conditions required for achievement of good performance in horse 
 racing include light weight , small frame , a sense of balance , excellent reflexes , and 
 agility . these are important factors that affect the results of races and determine the 
 period of activity as a jockey . therefore , jockeys need to maintain strict control of their 
 weight , balance , and physical strength at normal times , and , in particular , improvement of 
 lower extremity muscle function is very important . diverse tools and methods for improvement of muscle function have been studied and 
 developed by many previous researchers ; however , recently , the application of kinesio tape , 
 an adhesive elastic tape that is not chemically treated , in order to normalize reduced 
 muscle strength and cramp , and to improve the circulation of blood , tissue fluids , and lymph 
 fluids , through the principle of muscle homeostasis , to achieve muscle balance and relieve 
 symptoms , has been widely used in diverse fields12 . in the present study , kinesio tape was applied to four muscles of the knee joints of horse 
 racing jockeys , and a biodex instrument was used to evaluate the isokinetic muscle strength 
 of their knee joints at angular velocities of 60/sec and 180/sec . the results of the present study indicate that peak torque , average torque , and total work , 
 showed significant increases after application of kinesio tape to the knee joint region , 
 compared to before the application at knee joint angular speeds of 60/sec and 180/sec . these results can be interpreted as indicating that application of kinesio tape has a 
 positive effect on isokinetic knee joint extensor strength and flexor strength of horse 
 racing jockeys . these results are consistent with the results of other studies , including 
 the study reported by kowall mg , kolk g , nuber gw , cassisi wi seung - du et al.9 reported improvement 
 of isokinetic muscle strength after application of taping to the quadriceps femoris muscle , 
 and fratocchi g , di mattia f , and rossi r et al.14 reported that application of taping over the biceps brachii 
 resulted in significantly increased concentric elbow peak torque in a population of healthy 
 participants . in the present study when taping was applied , isokinetic knee joint extensor and flexor 
 strength showed significant increases , and this can be interpreted as increase in muscle 
 strength arising from improvement in the ratio of protagonists and synergists . that is , 
 application of taping to the knee joint region acts primarily to fix the joints , and , 
 secondarily to improve harmony and balance between protagonists and synergists around the 
 joint , thereby helping cooperative actions and muscle strength improvement15 . the physiological mechanism of muscle strength improvement through kinesio taping can be 
 explained by the cutaneous fusimotor reflex theory , which states that when the skin is 
 stimulated by various forms of stimuli , such as contact and vibrations , muscles below the 
 stimulated skin region are induced to contract through gamma motor reflexes16 . therefore , taping stimulates an increase 
 in muscle activity of the skin , improving muscle strength12 , 15 . the mechanism of muscle 
 strength improvement through kinesio taping can also be explained by the irradiation 
 phenomenon , in which increases in intensity and frequency of stimuli lead to an increase in 
 the diffusion of the intensity of reactions . that is , muscular contractility can be 
 increased by increasing the intensity of stimulation of muscles through taping . we conclude 
 that muscle strength was improved by the combined effects of these factors .
[ purpose ] the purpose of this study was to conduct a scientific analysis of the 
 effectiveness of kinesio taping at preventing injury and improving horse racing jockey ' 
 performance , by studying the effects on isokinetic muscular function of kinesio taping 
 applied to the knee joint muscle . 
 [ subjects ] eight horse racing jockeys were selected for 
 this study . 
 [ methods ] measurement of isokinetic muscular function of both flexor and 
 extensor muscles was performed at the angular velocities of 60/sec and 180/sec using a 
 biodex system 3 , before and after application of kinesio taping to the rectus femoris , 
 vastus medialis , vastus lateralis , and hamstring . 
 [ result ] at the angular velocities of 
 60/sec and 180/sec , significant differences were observed in both flexor and extensor 
 peak torque , average power , and total work of the knee joint after application of kinesio 
 taping . 
 [ conclusion ] the application of kinesio taping has a positive effect on the 
 function of both knee flexors and extensors , and also kinetic ability . 
 therefore , its use 
 would lead to a significant increase in the muscle function of horse racing jockeys .