Effects of Double-Taped Kinesio Taping on Pain and Functional Performance due to Muscle Fatigue in Young Males: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Kinesio taping (KT) is widely applied for pain control and rehabilitation in clinical settings. Tape tension is a key factor in the taping method. However, limited evidence exists regarding the reinforced tension effects of KT on functional performance and pain in healthy individuals. This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of double-taped Kinesio taping (DTKT) on functional performance and pain caused by muscle fatigue after exercise. A total of 44 healthy male students (mean age, 23.3 ± 2.2 years) were randomly assigned to the following three groups: DTKT, normal-tape Kinesio taping (NTKT), and placebo. The single-hopping (SH) distance, vertical jump height (VJH), and power (VJP) were assessed at baseline. The muscle fatigue protocol was then applied to induce muscle soreness. Outcome measures including subjective pain, SH distance, VJH and VJP were evaluated immediately after the muscle fatigue protocol, and KT was then applied; the measures were then again evaluated immediately and 24 h after KT application. No significant interactions between pain and functional performance were observed (p > 0.05), and there were no significant differences in SH, VJH, and VJP among the groups (p > 0.05). Notably, the DTKT had an immediate effect on the alleviation of pain caused by muscle fatigue. The present findings indicate that DTKT is not superior to NTKT or placebo in terms of pain relief and enhancing functional performance after tape application in healthy male students.

Kinesio taping does not improve ankle functional or performance in people with or without ankle injuries: Systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Twenty-two studies investigated the effects of Kinesio taping on jump performance measured as jump distance, height, flight time, execution time, power, velocity, impact, stiffness and rate of force development, in three populations. 26,28,30,33,39,40,52,55,59,63,67,70 –80 Meta-analyses were carried out for healthy people and people with chronic ankle instability.…”

Effect of Posterior Pelvic Tilt Taping on Pelvic Inclination, Muscle Strength, and Gait Ability in Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study

“…Kinesio taping was introduced by Kenzo Kase as a method of attaching an elastic adhesive tape with elasticity similar to that of the skin and is currently used in rehabilitation for various purposes [11]. Taping is applied in combination with other therapeutic techniques to strengthen weakened muscles, regulate joint instability, assist postural alignment, reduce pain, improve blood flow and lymphatic circulation, relieve spasticity, and strengthen muscle function [12][13][14]. Additionally, studies have reported that pelvic inclination decreases when taping is applied for posture correction [15][16][17][18][19].…”

The Effects of Taping Combined with Wrist Stabilization Exercise on Pain, Disability, and Quality of Life in Postpartum Women with Wrist Pain: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

“…Participants were evaluated before and one day after the final intervention by three well-trained physical therapists, who did not have any information on the subjects and the purpose of this study. The 100-mm VAS was used to measure the degree of pain, and it is a clinical tool that is widely used to measure subjective pain in the clinic and in researches [ 10 , 14 , 21 ]. The VAS subjectively displays the pain intensity that the patient feels by using a 100-mm horizontal line marked from 0 to 100 from left to right, with 0 meaning no pain and 100 meaning maximum pain.…”

“…However in the past 20 years, various application methods and physiological effects of taping have been reported in various types of patients and subjects. According to the previous studies, taping methods show positive effects on the alleviation of pain caused by muscle fatigue [10], the increase of gait and balance function in strokes [11,12], and the management of pain and functional disability in patients with epicondylitis [13], wrist pain [14], and hand osteoarthritis [15]. Interestingly, however, some studies reported that therapeutic exercise combined with taping improves pain relief and motor function more effectively than exercise only [11,13].…”