Effects of Kinesio Tape on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

NCT ID: NCT04128670

Last Updated: 2025-11-10

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

36 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-01-30

Study Completion Date

2026-05-30

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Kinesio tape on delayed onset muscle soreness of the biceps muscle of your arm following strenuous exercise of the bicep muscle.

Detailed Description

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Participants will complete 4 testing sessions that will be held on 4 separate days (Baseline, Eccentric Exercise day, 48 hours post exercise, and 72 hours post exercise). All sessions will take place in the National Institute of Fitness and Sport, where the Department of Kinesiology laboratories are located.

During the first session (Baseline), the purpose and procedures of the research will be explained by the investigator, co-investigator, or a research assistant in more detail. Participants will read and sign the informed consent form and then undergo an exclusion/inclusion criteria assessment which includes the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), and brief questionnaire. All study personnel/staff obtaining informed consent will be trained in the responsible conduct of research. All participants will be asked if they have a known allergy to Kinesio Tape (KT) or if they have sensitive skin. Those with sensitive skin will be administered an allergy test. After screening and enrollment, participants will complete baseline assessments of muscle pain and function, pain sensitivity, and psychological risk factors (See outcome measures).

During Session 2, strength of the non-dominant bicep will be measured first. Participants will then perform an eccentric exercise protocol designed to induce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) on the non-dominant arm. Strength of the non-dominant bicep will be measured immediately post the eccentric exercise protocol. At the end of this session, subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups (experimental KT group, placebo KT group) or a control group (i.e., no intervention performed). The experimental group will receive KT with proper technique and tension (10-20%), while the placebo group will receive KT without technique and tension.

Sessions 3 and 4 will occur approximately 48 and 72 hours post Session 2, respectively. All the outcome variables will be measured during these sessions. For participants in the KT groups, the tape will be removed at the end of session 4, as described below.

Conditions

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Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Keywords

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kinesio tape muscle soreness eccentric exercise muscle pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Randomized single-blind controlled trial
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
Participant will not know if they are in the experimental taping condition or the placebo taping condition.

Study Groups

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Kinesiotape (KT)

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 Type EXPERIMENTAL

Kinesiotape

Intervention Type DEVICE

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. It is recommended that the application of the tape for lymphatic correction be applied for 24-72 hours. The tape will be applied with a tension of 10-20%.

Placebo Kinesiotape

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.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Kinesiotape

Intervention Type DEVICE

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. It is recommended that the application of the tape for lymphatic correction be applied for 24-72 hours. The tape will be applied with a tension of 10-20%.

No Tape

This group will not receive any intervention.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Kinesiotape

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. It is recommended that the application of the tape for lymphatic correction be applied for 24-72 hours. The tape will be applied with a tension of 10-20%.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 18 to 30 years old

Exclusion Criteria

* Participating in any strengthening exercises or activities of the upper extremities for the past month.
* Regularly (\~2x per month) participating in strengthening exercises or activities that include lengthening actions of the upper extremity for the past 6 months.
* An answer of yes to any of the seven questions on the first page of the 2019 Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire \[PAR-Q: 16\] indicating that the subject is not physically ready for exercise without a medical exam. These exclusions include the following:

* If participant's doctor has ever said that he/she has a heart condition or high blood pressure
* Pain in chest at rest, during daily activities of living, or when doing physical activity
* If participant has ever lost balance because of dizziness or has lost consciousness in the past 12 months
* If the participant currently has (or have had within the past 12 months) a bone, joint, or soft tissue (muscle, ligament, or tendon) problem that could be made worse by becoming more physically activity
* If participant is currently taking prescribed medications for a chronic medical condition
* If the participant's doctor has ever told them that they should only do medically supervised physical activity.
* Currently taking nutritional supplements or anti-inflammatory medication on a daily basis
* Any injury or surgery to the neck or upper extremity in the past 6 months
* Open or scabbed wounds in the arm area to be taped
* Known allergies to the tape or medical adhesive bandages
* If skin irritation develops to the tape


● Taking over-the-counter pain medications on days of testing, prior to testing sessions, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

30 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Indiana University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Kelly Naugle, PhD

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Kelly M Naugle, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 3172740601

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Kelly M Naugle

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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1908530527

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id