Forearm Skin Blood Flow After Kinesiology Taping in Healthy Soccer Players: An Exploratory Investigation.

CONTEXT: 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.

DESIGN: Randomized crossover study.

SETTING: Research laboratory.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen healthy, elite, adolescent male soccer players (age = 14.7 ± 0.6 years).

INTERVENTION(S): 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.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): 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.