title: Immediate effects of kinesiotaping on quadriceps muscle strength:  a single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immediate effects on maximal muscle strength of kinesiotaping (KT) applied to the dominant quadriceps of healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation.
  
  
  METHODS
  With ethical approval and informed consent, a convenience sample of 36 healthy volunteers were recruited. Two subjects did not complete the sessions and were excluded from the analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were tested across 3 different sessions, randomly receiving 2 experimental KT conditions applied with the aim of enhancing and inhibiting muscle strength and a sham KT application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quadriceps muscle strength was measured by means of an isokinetic maximal test performed at 60 and 180 degrees per second. Two secondary outcome measures were performed: the single-leg triple hop for distance to measure limb performance and the Global Rating of Change Scale (GRCS) to calculate agreement between KT application and subjective perception of strength.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with baseline, none of the 3 taping conditions showed a significant change in muscle strength and performance (all P > 0.05). Effect size was very low under all conditions (≤0.08). Very few subjects showed an individual change greater than the minimal detectable change. Global Rating of Change Scale scores demonstrated low to moderate agreement with the type of KT applied, but some placebo effects were reported independently of condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicated no significant effect in the maximal quadriceps strength immediately after the application of inhibition, facilitation, or sham KT. These results do not support the use of KT applied in this way to change maximal muscle strength in healthy people.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Occupational Rehabilitation and Ergonomics, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, Clinica del Lavoro e della Riabilitazione, IRCCS, Veruno, Italy. stefano.vercelli@fsm.it
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vercelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sartorio
authors.forename: Calogero
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foti
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colletto
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Virton
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ronconi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferriero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001458:Bandages; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations / Q000379:methods*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method