Abstract
CONTEXT: Kinesio® Tape is a rehabilitative tape resembling the elasticity of human muscle, used to treat conditions of the musculoskeletal, circulatory, and neuromuscular systems. Kinesio® Tape has been utilized as an additional option to regular athletic tape in treating a variety of conditions. While current literature examines the use of Kinesio® Tape in people with pathological conditions, little research exists on the effectiveness of the tape in healthy populations. OBJECTIVE: To determine if Kinesio® Tape affects the concentric force production of the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior in healthy, non-injured individuals. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized Clinical Trial SETTING: All testing took place in the University Sports Medicine Lab PARTICIPANTS: Healthy individuals ages 18-40 years. No knee or ankle injury/surgery in the past 6 months, no rehabilitation in the last 6 months, no use of Kinesio® Tape around the knee or ankle within the past month, medically cleared PAR-Q and Health History Questionnaire. INTERVENTIONS: Kinesio® Tex Tape Gold in black with a "Y" cut for muscle facilitation technique for the rectus femoris and an "I" cut for muscle facilitation of the tibialis anterior. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Muscle peak torque, average peak torque, and time to peak torque measured at 60 deg/sec and 240 deg/sec for the rectus femoris and 30 deg/sec and 120 deg/sec for the tibialis anterior on the Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer. RESULTS: 51 participants (mean ± SD age, 24.4 ± 3.73, 37.2% female) completed the study. No statistically significant differences in force production in tape vs. no tape measures (p<0.0056). A statistically significant decrease in time to peak torque was found for knee extension with Kinesio® Tape at 60 degrees/second. CONCLUSION: Kinesio® Tape has no positive or negative effect on concentric force production of the rectus femoris or tibialis anterior in un-injured individuals. However, decrease in time to peak torque was found for knee extension at 60 degrees/second with Kinesio® Tape.