Toward a Rider-Specific Recovery Model: A Conceptual Framework for Managing DOMS through Proprioceptive Awareness and Kinesiology Taping in Athletes

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a common physiological phenomenon experienced by athletes following novel or intensive exercise. In equestrian sports, DOMS is particularly disruptive due to the sport’s unique physical demands, which include sustained isometric postures, asymmetrical muscular engagement, and refined proprioceptive control. These demands place equestrian athletes at risk of prolonged muscular discomfort and neuromuscular inefficiency, which in turn can compromise rider stability, motor coordination, and horse–rider communication. Despite the documented prevalence of DOMS in other athletic populations, recovery models tailored to the sensory and biome- chanical nuances of equestrianism remain underrepresented in current frameworks. This conceptual paper introduces a novel framework known as RIDER-R, comprising six interrelated phases: Recognize, Identify, Describe, Educate, Recover, and Review. The model is designed to support equestrian athletes through a cognitively engaged and proprioceptively informed recovery process. Unlike traditional recovery models that emphasize passive modalities or generalised strategies, RIDER-R integrates kinesiology taping (KT) as both a therapeutic intervention and an awareness-enhancing mechanism. KT is conceptualized here not only for its physiological effects, such as improved circulation and reduced muscle stiffness, but also for its ability to stimulate cutaneous receptors that enhance proprioceptive feedback. The framework is grounded in a synthesis of recovery science, somatosensory learning theory, and athlete-centered rehabilitation principles, offering a cyclical, adaptive approach that positions the athlete as an active participant in the recovery process. By embedding sensory literacy within a structured model, RIDER- R offers a context-specific and theoretically robust platform for managing DOMS in equestrian settings. Future empirical investigations are recommended to validate the model’s efficacy and to explore its applications in training, injury prevention, and rehabilitative protocols across equestrian disciplines.