Investigating the Immediate Effects of Kinesio Tape and Biomechanical Tape on Strength and Performance: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over Trial

Kinesio Taping (KT) is a technique utilizing a two way elastic tape originally created by Kenzo Kase in the 1970s. KT is a complementary method which is used as an adjunct to major therapy approaches in various musculoskeletal and neurological diseases.4 KT is employed in sports injuries and various health problems; but there is limited scientific evidence evaluating KT effectiveness and the results are inconsistent.5 One of the KT potential benefits is that of raising the range of motion through increasing blood circulation or through stimulation of cutaneous mechanoreceptors and this way it affects fascial tissue.6-8 Biomechanical Taping (BT) is a technique utilizing a four way elastic tape originally created by Ryan Kendrick in the 2010s. BT is a complementary method for supplementing load absorption, force contribution and modifying movement. BT affects tissues and movement in a mechanical way and it is almost a completely different method from KT. Kase's hypothesis is that KT affects fascial tissues and mechanoreseptors, but Kendrick's hypothesis is that BT ,which is applied in shortened position and cross joint segments, will gain potential energy in case of an extremity realized movement with antagonist activity. Then the weak agonist muscle gets activated for repositioning the extremity; this potential energy turns to kinetic energy like a released bow. As a result of kinetic energy, it may support the movement with using passive mechanical strength.9 In this study, the investigators aim to illustrate immediate effects of various taping methods on the performances of healthy subjects. In that way the investigators test hypothesis that different taping methods affect healthy subjects to improve performance. The investigators; investigate strength, active range of motion and vertical jump height as a parameters of performance with No Tape(NT), Sham Tape(ST), KT and BT.