Acute effects of kinesiology taping on physical parameters and functional performance in handball players: a double-blinded, randomised placebo-controlled trial

Purpose

To investigate the acute effect of kinesiology taping in the triceps surae, which has the key role in jumping, of handball players on ankle plantar and dorsiflexion muscle strength, proprioception, balance, horizontal jumping and functional movement.

Methods

It is a double-blinded, randomised placebo-controlled study. There were two groups in the study: the experimental group was applied ‘Y shaped’ kinesiology taping on triceps surae, based on facilitation technique with 25–50% stretch. The control (placebo) group was applied kinesiology taping on triceps surae without any stretch. Participants’ muscle strength, proprioception, balance, horizontal jumping and functional movement was measured before and 2 h after taping.

Results

Kinesiology taping applied to the triceps surae had an acute effect on the right foot dorsiflexion muscle strength (experimental:4.9  ±  5.8, control: − 0.4  ±  3.4, p:0.02). Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups in proprioception of the right foot in 25° plantar flexion with eyes open (experiment: − 2.72  ±  4.14, control:0.6  ±  2.75, p:0.04) and the right foot in 10° dorsiflexion with eyes closed (experiment: − 3.72  ±  4.14, control: − 0. 5  ±  1.58, p:0.03); players with kinesiology taping had better sense of proprioception than those with placebo taping. No significant differences were found in balance, horizontal jumping and functional movement between the experimental and the control groups.

Conclusion

Kinesiology taping may provide an acute effect on the dorsiflexion muscle strength of handball players and can help to maintain ankle joint position. Kinesiology taping over triceps surae did not enhance balance, horizontal jumping or functional movement. Large randomised controlled trials could provide more definitive evidence.

Trial Registration Number and Date

NCT05691946 and 19 January 2023.