Context: Physiotherapists and athletic trainers often use Kinesio Taping (KT) to prevent and treat musculoskeletal injuries in athletes, yet evidence about its effects on neuromuscular performance is conflicting.Objective: To investigate the influence of a KT application directed at the ankle joint on measures of corticospinal excitability with transcranial magnetic stimulation.Design: Controlled laboratory study. Setting: Research laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: Twelve healthy young women (age ¼ 23.1 6 1.9 years; range, 19-26 years).Intervention(s): Participants were tested under no-tape and KT conditions according to a random sequence order. The KT was applied to the skin overlying the dorsiflexor and plantarflexor muscles of the ankle. Main Outcome Measure(s):We assessed changes in the amplitude of motor-evoked potentials elicited at rest and during movement and changes in the silent period and background muscle activity during movement.Results: Taping conditions had no effect on motor-evoked potential amplitude at rest or during movement or on the silentperiod duration and background muscle activity.Conclusions: Our results concur with other recent reports, showing KT applications have little influence at the neuromuscular level. Alterations in sensory feedback ascribed to elastic taping are likely insufficient to modulate corticospinal excitability in a functionally meaningful manner.

ObjectiveTo determine the symptom duration, and time to return to school and sport after sport-related concussion in paediatric population aged 12–18 years. Symptom duration was hypothesised to be >7–10 days.DesignProspective observational cohort study.SettingLarge urban community primary care sports medicine clinic.Paticipants30 participants age 12–18 years (Male: n=27;Female: n=3) presenting to clinic ≤14 days with sport-related concussion. 100% completed study. Exclusion criteria: age <12 and >18 years, presentation ≥15 days, non-sport related concussion.Independent variable(s)/modifiersSport, SCAT3 score, past medical and concussion history, objective assessment variables (oculomotor, near-point convergence, vestibular, cognitive, cervical dysfunction).Outcome measuresSymptom duration, return to sport, return to school (days)Main resultsMost concussions occurred playing ice-hockey (53%), followed by Canadian football and basketball. Mean intake SCAT3 symptom number was 10 and symptom score was 22. Patient characteristics included prior concussion (50%), prior neurological conditions (40%), and pre-existing psychological diagnosis (20%). The mean initial exam findings included near point convergence=6.5 cm and Balance Error Scoring System=26.1/30. Vestibular dysfunction (46.7%), cervical pain (53.3%), and abnormal coordination in (43.3%) were present. Mean duration of symptoms was 30.6 days; return to school was 23.9 days. 73.3% of patients would return to sport within 3 months (mean=34.6 days).ConclusionsSport-related concussion symptoms resolved ≥30 days after injury confirming prolonged symptoms in an adolescent population, affecting return to school and sport. Future larger similar prospective studies may identify associations between past medical history or clinical exam findings and symptom duration, return to school and sport.Competing interestsNone.