title: Effect of Kinesio taping on elbow muscle strength in healthy individuals: A randomized trial1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of the application of kinesiotape on muscle strength is still uncertain. This trial represents the first randomized-controlled trial to investigate the immediate and delayed effects of kinesiotape application on triceps muscle strength in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The trial was randomized and placebo-controlled. Young adult (18-35 years of age), healthy men were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a kinesiotape group or a sham tape for the control group. ``Y''-shaped kinesiotape was applied to the triceps muscle in the sitting position. ``I''-shaped tape was used for the control group, and the sham tape was placed horizontally on the triceps muscle. A hand-held digital dynamometer was used to evaluate the peak force of elbow extension and flexion. Assessments were carried out before taping, an hour after taping, and after the first week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ages of the participants in the kinesiotape and control groups were 26.2 ± 4.8 and 26.7 ± 4.8, respectively. The mean values of the peak force before taping, after the first hour, and after first week were statistically analyzed using one-way repeated measures. No statistical significance was found for in-group analysis of either the kinesiotape group or the control group (p> 0.05). In addition, there was no statistical significance in the between-group assessments (p> 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The triceps muscle is appropriate for studying the effects of kinesiotape on muscle strength because elbow extension is provided by only one fusiform-shaped muscle. The results of this study did not show any significant changes in immediate or delayed muscle strength according to the initial measurements and between-group assessments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Karahan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kocaeli Derince Training and Research Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seher
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kucuksarac
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ordahan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gözde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turkoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Neslihan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soran
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kemal E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Ozen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zinnuroglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055052:Athletic Tape; D004550:Elbow / Q000502:physiology*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Athletic tape; elbow; muscle strength; muscle strength dynamometer