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

Design: Randomised crossover study design.
Setting: Research laboratory.
Patients or Other Participants: Thirteen healthy, elite, adolescent male soccer players (age: 14.7±0.6yrs).
Intervention(s): Participants completed two experimental trials; during trial 1, the Context: Kinesiology tape (KT) has become popular amongst athletes for both injury prevention and rehabilitation due to its reported therapeutic effects, including lymphatic flow facilitation 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.
volar aspect of the dominant forearm was taped. Forearm SkBF was measured within the taped area (T), and also 3cm lateral to the taped area (control 1). During trial 2, no tape was applied to either site (NT and control 2). Trials were performed within 7 days.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Baseline and maximal thermally (42°C) stimulated SkBF (PU) 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: There were no significant differences observed for baseline SkBF or CVC between trials or measurement sites. Following local heating, no significant differences were observed for SkBF or CVC between trials or measurement sites.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that in healthy, trained adolescent males, KT is not associated with increased forearm SkBF.