Immediate effect of kinesio taping on muscle response in young elite soccer players.

CONTEXT: Kinesio taping (KT) is a new taping technique increasingly used in sports medicine to improve muscle performance; however, its real effect is not entirely known.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the immediate effects of KT on muscle performance in young healthy elite soccer players.

DESIGN: Crossover study.

SETTING: University laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen young elite soccer players voluntarily participated in the study (mean ± SEM: age 18.20 ± 2.45 y, height 1.76 ± 3.56 m, body mass 65.25 ± 3.76 kg, body-mass index 20.12 ± 1.25 kg/m2).

INTERVENTIONS: Each subject completed 2 different protocols, with and without KT. Interventions were performed in a random order, with a washout period between conditions of 1 wk.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included tensiomyographic response in the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis, power output with 30 and 50 kg, countermovement jump, and 10-m sprint.

RESULTS: Data showed no significant differences for any of the outcomes analyzed between interventions.

CONCLUSIONS: KT does not produce a short-term improvement in muscle performance in young elite soccer players.