Changes in Grip Strength and Muscle Activity in Individuals with Lateral Epicondylitis According to Different Mulligan Taping Methods

Purpose: Although various conservative treatments have been proposed for managing lateral epicondylitis of the elbow (LE), the clinical effectiveness of Mulligan taping as a standalone intervention remains insufficiently explored.This study aims to assess the impact of two distinct Mulligan taping techniques-wrist extensor lateral glide Mulligan taping (WE-MT) and forearm lateral glide Mulligan taping (FA-MT)-on grip strength and forearm muscle activity in patients with LE.Methods: Fourteen individuals diagnosed with LE participated in this study.A single-group repeated measures design was employed, and each participant received both WE-MT and FA-MT interventions in randomized order, with a 20 min washout period between applications.Grip strength was measured using a Jamar dynamometer, and surface electromyography was used to assess the muscle activity of the extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL), extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB), and extensor digitorum communis (EDC).Differences based on the presence of taping were analyzed using one-way repeated measures ANOVA, and contrast tests were conducted to compare the effects of each taping technique.Results: Both taping methods significantly improved grip strength compared to the pre-taping condition (p < 0.05), with WE-MT demonstrating a greater improvement than FA-MT (p < 0.05).Electromyographic analysis showed that WE-MT significantly increased muscle activity in the ECRL, ECRB, and EDC (p < 0.05), whereas FA-MT resulted in limited or no improvement in muscle activity (p < 0.05). Conclusion:Compared to FA-MT, WE-MT had a greater effect on grip strength and muscle activation in patients with