Camacho Villa M.A.1,2, Esperanza H.V.1,2, Delgado Diaz D.C.1,2
1Universidad Industrial de Santander, Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia, 2Physical Therapy School, Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia
Background: Kinesio-Taping (KT) is a new therapeutic modality, which is believed to reduce the time for muscle recovery, by decreasing pain and limiting inflammation. Despite its wide use in sports medicine, minimal evidence supports the use of this adhesive tape in the treatment of muscle injuries and its mechanisms of action are not clear yet.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of KT in muscle performance (MP) and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after muscle damaged induced by a single session of lengthening contractions (LC) in healthy young men.
Methods: 66 healthy men, volunteered to participate in this study (age: 18-25 y/o; moderately active). All subjects performed 200 isokinetic LC (20 sets, 10 reps) of the dominant quadriceps; then, subjects were randomized to either control (C; no treatment), sham (S; no tape tension), or Kinesio-Taping (KT; 10% tape tension) treated group; standard technique was used. LC and MP measurements were performed using Humac-Norm isokinetic dynamometer; MP was defined as isometric peak torque (IPT), isokinetic peak torque (KPT), work and time to PT, measured during maximal contractions, isometric at 60° of knee flexion, and isokinetic concentric at 60°/s. DOMS was assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS). MP and DOMS were assessed before exercise (Pre), 48h and 96h post-exercise. Comparisons within group were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA; ANCOVA was used for comparisons between groups. The Universidad Industrial de Santander IRB approved the study.
Results: Muscle damage was confirmed by increase in CK activity level in all groups (p 0.01). Significant decrease in IPT was detected at 48h in C (p=0.004) and S group (p 0.01); no differences in KT group (p=0.19). KPT was lower at 48h in C (p=0.001) and S group (p 0.01); at 96h it remained under Pre in S group (p=0.003). KT showed no change in KPT at any time-point (p=0.05). Muscular work decreased in all groups at 48h (C, p 0.01; S, p 0.01; KT, p=0.04); at 96h, work in S-group remained lower than Pre (p 0.01). No changed in any group was detected in time to PT. No differences in any of the MP variables between groups were detected (IPT: p=0.09; time to IPT, p=0.66; KTP: p=0.24; work, p=0.17; time to KPT, p=0.72). Instead, relative to BL, DOMS intensity increased in all groups at 48h, but only S group perceived soreness at 96h (C, BL: 15.9±3.32mm; 48h: 45.5±5.2mm; 96h: 22.9±4.89mm p 0.01; S, BL: 10.75±2.18mm; 48h: 50.07±4.58mm; 96h: 25.75±5.34mm, p 0.01; and KT, BL: 16.16±2.40mm; 48h: 29.51±2.95mm; 96h: 12.96±1.54mm, p 0.01). Comparisons between groups, showed lower DOMS intensity in the KT group at 48h (DOMS during MDC: p=0.01; DOMS during the functional activity: p 0.01).
Conclusion(s): KT reduces muscle soreness perception in the quadriceps after exercise-induced muscle damage, however it does not impact muscular performance.
Implications: It seems plausible that KT is capable of aiding remove bioproducts that induce muscle pain. Instead, muscle repair seems to be interrupted by a placebo technique; thus, under muscle normal conditions, no treatment is necessary to positively impact muscle function.
Funding acknowledgements: The Universidad Industrial de Santander gave all the monetary support
Topic: Sport & sports injuries
Ethics approval: Approval of this study was granted through the Universidad Industrial de Santander IRB in accordance the Declaration of Helsinki
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
