Effects of kinesiology taping timing on recovery in the lower limbs.

Abstract

Background: Kinesiology taping (KT) is widely used to support muscle function and recovery, but its optimal application timing remains unclear. While some suggest pre-exercise KT provides protective benefits, others propose post-exercise KT aids recovery. Eccentric contractions often lead to eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), causing strength loss, soreness, and reduced range of motion. Whether KT timing influences its effectiveness in mitigating or accelerating EIMD recovery requires further investigation.

Purpose: This study examined whether KT, applied before (KT-pre) or after (KT-post) eccentric exercise of the knee extensors, could mitigate or hasten recovery from EIMD in the lower limbs.

Methods: 12 healthy adult males (22.0 ± 1.7 years) participated in a repeated-measures crossover study under three conditions: KT-pre, KT-post, and a no-taping control (CON). Participants performed 72 eccentric contractions of the knee extensors on the non-dominant leg using an isokinetic dynamometer. Outcome measures included maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) normalized to body weight, rate of force development (RFD) in the 0-200 ms interval, neuromuscular efficiency (NME, defined as the ratio of peak torque to integrated electromyography), active ROM of knee flexion (measured via goniometry), and subjective muscle soreness (100-mm visual analogue scale). Assessments were conducted at baseline and at 0-, 24-, and 48-h post-exercise.

Results: When expressed as a percentage of baseline, both peak torque and RFD in the 0-200 ms interval declined significantly at 0- and 24-h post-exercise (p < 0.05) in all groups, with no significant intergroup differences. The iEMG parameter remained unchanged. NME declined significantly at 0 h (p < 0.05) in all conditions; however, at 24 h, the KT-pre group exhibited significantly higher NME than the control (79.3% ± 12.8% vs. 94.4% ± 17.4%, p = 0.0052). Active ROM decreased and subjective muscle soreness increased significantly at 0 and 24 h (p < 0.05) across all groups, with no significant intergroup differences.

Conclusion: Although KT-pre demonstrated a short-term protective effect immediately after eccentric exercise, neither pre- nor post-exercise taping significantly mitigated muscle damage or enhanced recovery. Further research is needed to clarify KT's long-term benefits and its effects on EIMD in other muscle groups.