Kinesio taping effect on quadriceps strength and lower limb function of healthy individuals: A blinded, controlled, randomized, clinical trial

OBJECTIVES: To analyze kinesio taping (KT) effect on quadriceps strength and lower limb function over a 7-day period. DESIGN: Blind randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Hospital's Physical Therapy Department. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty healthy individuals (30 men and 30 women) were randomly distributed into three groups: Control--without KT application; Placebo--placebo KT application and Experimental--A KT application designed to stimulate quadriceps femoris activity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The quadriceps strength was measured using a manual dynamometer whereas lower limb function was assessed using the Single Hop Test for Distance. Evaluations occurred at five time-points: baseline; immediately, 3 and 5 days after KT application; and 72 h post KT withdrawal. RESULTS: There was no significant interaction between time-points and groups for muscle strength: dominant (P = 0.13) and non-dominant (P = 0.41) and lower limb function: dominant (P = 0.09) and non-dominant (P = 0.53); but lower limb function within-group comparisons showed improvements in all groups at the evolution of all time-points analyzed for both limbs (P = 0.001). This is possibly due to a learning effect as the participants became more familiar with executing the assessment tests. CONCLUSION: KT did not improve quadriceps strength and lower limb function of healthy individuals and its application with these objectives should be reconsidered.