Kinesio Tape for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Overseen By Kelly M Naugle, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Indiana University

Must not be taking: Anti-inflammatories, Pain medications

Disqualifiers: Heart condition, Hypertension, Dizziness, others

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

36 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if Kinesio tape reduces muscle soreness in the biceps after a strenuous workout. Participants will have tape applied to their arms in different ways: one group with tension, another without tension, and a third group without any tape. The trial seeks individuals who have not recently engaged in arm-strengthening exercises and who do not have conditions that would make exercise unsafe. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding the potential benefits of Kinesio tape for muscle recovery.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you do not take over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or NSAIDs on testing days. If you are taking prescribed medications for a chronic condition, you may not be eligible to participate.

What prior data suggests that Kinesio Tape is safe for use on muscles?

Research has shown that Kinesio Tape is generally safe for use. Many studies suggest it can help ease muscle pain after exercise, known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). For instance, applying the tape for more than 48 hours post-exercise seems to reduce pain and boost muscle strength. Athletes and healthcare professionals often use this visible adhesive. No major reports of negative effects have emerged, indicating it is well-tolerated. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike the standard treatments for delayed onset muscle soreness, which often include rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) or over-the-counter pain medications, Kinesio Tape offers a non-invasive method aimed at enhancing recovery. Researchers are excited about Kinesio Tape because it uses a unique lymphatic application technique that is believed to improve blood and lymphatic circulation, helping to remove metabolic waste more efficiently. This method involves applying the tape with a specific tension of 10-20%, which could potentially speed up recovery times compared to traditional methods. Additionally, the placebo arm with 0% tension helps to isolate the actual effect of the taping technique, providing clearer insights into its efficacy.

What evidence suggests that Kinesio Tape is effective for delayed onset muscle soreness?

Research has shown that Kinesio Tape can reduce muscle soreness after exercise. In this trial, participants in the Kinesiotape (KT) arm will have tape applied using a lymphatic application method. Studies indicate this method can ease pain and boost muscle strength when worn for more than 48 hours. One review of eight studies found that Kinesio Tape significantly reduces muscle soreness 48 to 72 hours post-exercise. It also outperforms compression sleeves for recovery. These findings suggest that Kinesio Tape might be beneficial for muscle soreness after workouts. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy individuals aged 18 to 30 who haven't done upper body strengthening exercises recently. It's not for those with recent injuries/surgeries, chronic conditions requiring medication, allergies to tape/adhesives, or certain heart/blood pressure issues.

Exclusion Criteria

I have not had any injuries or surgeries to my neck or arms in the last 6 months.

I take over-the-counter pain meds like Tylenol or Advil on test days.

If the participant's doctor has ever told them that they should only do medically supervised physical activity

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline Assessment

Participants undergo baseline assessments of muscle pain and function, pain sensitivity, and psychological risk factors

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Eccentric Exercise and Intervention Assignment

Participants perform an eccentric exercise protocol to induce DOMS and are randomly assigned to intervention groups

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up Assessments

Outcome variables are measured 48 and 72 hours post-exercise to assess changes in pain, strength, and range of motion

3 days

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Kinesio Tape

Trial Overview

The study tests if Kinesio tape can reduce muscle soreness in the biceps after intense exercise. Participants will have their arm muscles taped and then assessed for any changes in soreness levels.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Kinesiotape (KT) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Tape will be applied to the biceps muscle of the nondominant arm from approximately the shoulder to the elbow for up to 72 hours. For the KT group taping will be applied with a lymphatic application method according to the guidelines recommended by Kenzo Kase. This type of application is known to improve blood and lymphatic circulation which enhances the removal of metabolic products. The tape will be applied with a tension of 10-20%.

Group II: No Tape Active Control 1 Intervention

This group will not receive any intervention.

Group III: Placebo Kinesiotape Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Tape will be applied to the biceps muscle of the nondominant arm from approximately the shoulder to the elbow for up to 72 hours. The placebo KT group will have 0% tension.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Indiana University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,063

Recruited

1,182,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Kinesio Tape (KT) significantly reduces Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) pain more effectively than Compression Sleeves (CS), as shown in a study with 32 participants aged 18 to 24 over multiple time points after exercise-induced soreness.

Using both Kinesio Tape and Compression Sleeves together (CSKTG) further alleviates DOMS pain and enhances recovery of muscle strength compared to using either method alone, indicating a synergistic effect.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Kinesio tape and Compression sleeves on delayed onset of muscle soreness: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Xue, X., Hao, Y., Yang, X., et al.[2023]

In a study of 88 college students, both Kinesio taping (KT) and vibration treatment (VT) were effective in reducing delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), with VT showing superior pain relief compared to KT.

The joint intervention (JI) combining both KT and VT was more effective than either treatment alone, leading to better outcomes in pain reduction and muscle strength recovery after 24 and 48 hours.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of kinesio taping in combination with vibration treatment on college students' delayed-onset muscle soreness. Que, N.[2023]

In a study involving 54 collegiate students after 3 days of cross-country skiing, kinesio taping significantly reduced lower back muscle soreness 24 hours after application compared to baseline (p=0.020).

The results suggest that kinesio taping may be an effective method for alleviating post-exercise muscle soreness in healthy, physically active individuals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute and 24 h effect of kinesio taping on lower back muscle soreness during continued practice of cross-country skiing among collegiate students. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Merino-Marban, R., Smuka, I., Romero-Ramos, O., et al.[2021]

Kinesio tape (KT) significantly reduces muscle soreness at 48 and 72 hours after exercise, based on a systematic review of 8 trials involving 289 participants.

KT also improves muscle strength at 72 hours post-exercise, suggesting it may be beneficial for recovery, although it does not affect serum creatine kinase levels, which are markers of muscle damage.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Kinesio Tape on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Lin, J., Guo, ML., Wang, H., et al.[2022]

Kinesio tape (KT) significantly reduces the stiffness of lumbar paraspinal muscles at the superficial depth, as shown by a decrease in shear stiffness values measured by MR elastography in a study of 66 asymptomatic volunteers.

The study found no significant differences in muscle stiffness changes based on gender or taping direction, indicating that KT's effects on muscle stiffness are consistent across different demographics.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Magnetic Resonance Elastography in the Assessment of Acute Effects of Kinesio Taping on Lumbar Paraspinal Muscles. Wang, CK., Fang, YD., Lin, LC., et al.[2020]

Kinesio taping (KT) significantly reduced muscle soreness at 72 hours post-exercise compared to a placebo taping, indicating its efficacy in alleviating delayed onset muscle soreness in nonathletic individuals.

Despite reducing soreness, KT did not improve maximal quadriceps strength or vertical jump height, and it was associated with increased serum creatine kinase levels, suggesting a complex relationship between KT and muscle recovery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Kinesio Taping on the Relief of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Hazar Kanik, Z., Citaker, S., Yilmaz Demirtas, C., et al.[2021]

A study involving 16 healthy young soccer players found that Kinesio tape (KT) did not significantly affect muscle performance, as measured by peak torque and total work, under three different conditions: without tape, immediately after applying KT, and 8 hours post-application.

The results suggest that KT does not provide any performance benefits for non-injured athletes, indicating that its use for enhancing muscle performance in healthy individuals may not be justified.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Investigating the Clinical Effect of Kinesio Tape on Muscle Performance in Healthy Young Soccer Players - A Prospective Cohort Study. Alrawaili, SM.[2022]

Kinesio-taping (KT) significantly reduced the perception of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in participants 48 hours after exercise-induced muscle damage, compared to control and sham groups.

However, KT did not show any improvement in muscle performance metrics, such as peak torque or muscular work, indicating that while it may help with soreness, it does not enhance muscle strength or function.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Kinesiotaping Diminishes Delayed Muscle Soreness but does not Improve Muscular Performance. Camacho, MA., Herrera, E., Barela, JA., et al.[2020]

Kinesio-taping (KT) applications, specifically the crisscross weave method, showed a significant improvement in muscle strength recovery after high-intensity interval training (HIIT), while the Y-shaped application did not have this effect.

Neither KT application was effective in reducing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) or thigh edema in the quadriceps muscles, indicating that KT may not be beneficial for pain relief in this context.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Different Kinesio-Taping Applications for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness after High-Intensity Interval Training Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Hung, BL., Sun, CY., Chang, NJ., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of eight randomized controlled trials found limited to moderate evidence that Kinesio Tex tape (KTT) is not more effective than sham or usual care tape for managing various clinical conditions, including musculoskeletal issues and lymphedema.

One moderate quality trial suggested that KTT combined with physiotherapy may help with short-term pain relief for plantar fasciitis, but concerns about the study's internal validity raise doubts about its reliability.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The clinical effects of Kinesio® Tex taping: A systematic review. Morris, D., Jones, D., Ryan, H., et al.[2022]

Kinesio Taping (KT) applied in the insertion to origin mode significantly reduced the amplitude of stretch reflex in para-swimmers, indicating its potential to inhibit exaggerated muscle contractions associated with spasticity (P < .001).

The application of KT also led to improved swimming performance in the 100-m freestyle event compared to baseline (P < .01), suggesting that KT may enhance athletic performance in individuals with spasticity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of Kinesio Taping on Spasticity: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study in Para-Swimmers. Puce, L., Pallecchi, I., Marinelli, L., et al.[2021]

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8188598/

Effects of Kinesio Tape on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Using KT on the skin for more than 48 hours postexercise, but not for 24 h, appears more effective at relieving pain and improving muscle strength.

2.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34159201/

Effects of Kinesio Tape on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Using KT on the skin for more than 48 hours postexercise, but not for 24 h, appears more effective at relieving pain and improving muscle strength.

3.

bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com

bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-023-06499-3

Effect of Kinesio tape and Compression sleeves on delayed ...

Kinesio Tape can significantly reduce DOMS pain, and Kinesio Tape has a better recovery effect on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness than Compression Sleeves.

4.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S136085922500230X

Immediate and acute effects of Kinesio Taping ...

Kinesio taping combined with cupping therapy improved pain, flexibility, and functional performance in individuals experiencing DOMS.

5.

withpower.com

withpower.com/trial/phase-myalgia-2020-611ff

Kinesio Tape for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Kinesio tape (KT) significantly reduces muscle soreness at 48 and 72 hours after exercise, based on a systematic review of 8 trials involving 289 participants.

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8169012/

Kinesiology Tape: A Descriptive Survey of Healthcare ...

For post-exercise soreness, several researchers have documented that KT may diminish the effects of delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) ...

7.

mdpi.com

mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/20/5996

The Time-Based Effects of Kinesio Taping on Acute-Onset ...

Kinesio taping was more effective in reducing the pain intensity and delaying the fatigue-inducing time caused by acute-onset muscle soreness in calf muscle ...