Effects of elastic taping versus stretching on delayed onset muscle soreness

Kinesio taping (KT) has recently been included as a strategy aimed at preventing or reducing the effect of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). However, the effect of KT on DOMS compared to traditional methods (e.g. stretching) has not been studied. In a randomized controlled trial we divided participants into 3 groups (19 participants per group), Kinesio tape (KT), Placebo tape (PT) and Stretching groups (SG). Thirty minutes prior to exercise, Kinesio tape (KINESIO®TEX™, USA) was applied parallel to the dominant quadriceps. Participants in the PT group, had three short pieces of KT applied loosely around the dominant thigh. In both tape groups, the tape remained on the muscles throughout the 4 day post-training. Participants in the SG group completed stretches (10 repetitions held for 30 s with 10 s rest) on the quadriceps immediately after exercise and 3 times per day for the next 4 day. Muscle 83 soreness was induced by performing 4 sets of 25 maximal isokinetic (60°.s-1 ) eccentric contractions of dominant quadriceps on an isokinetic dynamometer. Prior to and each day after the eccentric exercise for 4 days the following variables were measured muscle strength, thigh circumference, range of motion, jump performance, pain pressure threshold and creatine kinase levels. The KT group increased isometric strength by 18.9% (95%CI 3.4-34.4%) at post-exercise day 3 and eccentric strength by 29.6% (3.2-54.8%) at post-exercise day 2 compared to placebo. In addition the KT group reduced muscle soreness at post-exercise day 2 by 23.8% (0.1-47.2%) compared to stretching. However, there was little effect of KT on thigh circumference, jump performance, range of motion, pain pressure threshold or creatine kinase levels throughout the recovery period. In conclusion, the application of KT increased muscle strength recovery after intensive exercise compared to placebo tape and reduced perceived muscle soreness compared to stretching