Kinesio taping® (KT) is a taping technique widely used in rehabilitation of sports injuries; however, the effect of KT on delayed onset muscle soreness is not completey clear. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of kinesio tape on the quadriceps femoris on muscle pain, flexibility, and sprint performance after squat exercise. Pressure-pain threshold for quadriceps femoris was recorded using pressure algometry. Quadriceps femoris flexibility was measured as the range of motion of knee flexion with a stainless steel goniometer. Sprint speed measurements were conducted using photocells placed at 0 and 20 m. All participants completed both conditions (KT application and no KT application) following a 1 week wash out period. Measurements were taken at baseline and 48 hours after exercise. For the KT condition, KT was applied immediately before the exercise protocol and remained on the skin for 48 hours. Squat exercise decreased flexibility and increased pain and sprint time compared to baseline. KT application resulted in similar sprint time and muscle pain as the no KT condition, but maintained flexibility compared to baseline.
This study concluded that KT application immediately before squat exercise does not have any effect on muscle pain and short sprint performance but maintains muscle flexibility at two days of recovery.