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.