title: Forearm Skin Blood Flow After Kinesiology Taping in Healthy Soccer Players: An Exploratory Investigation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kinesiology tape (KT) has become popular among athletes for both injury prevention and rehabilitation due to its reported therapeutic effects, including facilitation of lymphatic flow and enhanced peripheral blood flow. However, evidence to support such claims is insufficient.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether KT improves skin blood flow (SkBF) responses in young, elite soccer players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized crossover study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen healthy, elite, adolescent male soccer players (age = 14.7 ± 0.6 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed 2 experimental trials; during trial 1, the volar aspect of the dominant forearm was taped. Forearm SkBF was measured within the taped area and 3 cm lateral to the taped area. During trial 2, no tape was applied to either site. Both trials were performed within 7 days.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline and maximal thermally (42°C) stimulated SkBF responses were assessed using laser Doppler flowmetry. Continuously measured SkBF and derived mean arterial pressure obtained at 5-minute intervals were used to calculate cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), the primary outcome measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were observed for baseline SkBF or CVC between trials or measurement sites. After local heating, no differences were evident for SkBF or CVC between trials or measurement sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that, in healthy, trained adolescent males, KT was not associated with increased forearm SkBF.
authors.affiliation: Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK;
authors.forename: Kirsty A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.affiliation: Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK;
authors.forename: Vish
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Unnithan
authors.affiliation: Liverpool John Moores University, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Hopkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018953:Kinesiology, Applied / Q000379:methods*; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D012881:Skin Temperature; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
keywords: endothelial-dependent vasodilation; laser Doppler flowmetry; microcirculation