Diaphragmatic Kinesio Taping With HIIT in Trained Individuals (DKT-HIIT)

February 5, 2026 updated by: Dursun Alper YILMAZ, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University

Effects of Diaphragmatic Kinesio Taping-Assisted HIIT Exercises on Aerobic Capacity, Anaerobic Capacity, and Balance in Trained Individuals

This study examines whether adding diaphragmatic kinesio taping to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) improves physical performance in trained individuals. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will perform an 8-week HIIT program on a cycle ergometer. The other group will follow the same HIIT program and will also receive diaphragmatic kinesio taping before each exercise session. The taping is applied to support breathing muscles and may help improve oxygen use during exercise.

Before and after the training period, participants will undergo tests to measure aerobic capacity (VO₂max), anaerobic power (Wingate test), balance (Y-Balance test), lung function (spirometry), body composition, and heart rate responses. The results of this study will help determine whether diaphragmatic kinesio taping provides additional benefits when combined with HIIT training.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled experimental study evaluates the combined effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and diaphragmatic kinesio taping on aerobic capacity, anaerobic performance, balance, and respiratory function in trained adults.

HIIT is known to elicit strong cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuromuscular adaptations through repeated short bouts of high-intensity exercise interspersed with recovery periods. Although HIIT is widely used to improve aerobic and anaerobic fitness, the potential contribution of respiratory muscle support strategies to enhance these adaptations remains largely unexplored. Diaphragmatic kinesio taping is a non-invasive method that may facilitate inspiratory muscle activation, improve breathing mechanics, and support oxygen utilization during exercise.

The main objective of this study is to determine whether adding diaphragmatic kinesio taping to a structured HIIT program produces superior improvements in aerobic capacity, anaerobic power, balance, and pulmonary function compared with HIIT alone. The study also aims to explore whether this combined approach influences post-exercise balance and neuromuscular control, which are relevant for both performance and injury prevention.

Participants aged 18-35 years with at least six months of regular training experience will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group (HIIT with diaphragmatic kinesio taping) or a control group (HIIT only). Both groups will complete an eight-week training program consisting of three supervised sessions per week on a cycle ergometer. Exercise intensity will be individually prescribed to reach 85-95% of maximal heart rate during high-intensity intervals, with active recovery periods at lower intensities.

In the experimental group, diaphragmatic kinesio taping will be applied before each training session using a standardized technique designed to support the primary respiratory muscles. The control group will follow the same HIIT protocol without taping. No changes to participants' usual training outside the study will be encouraged.

Assessments will be performed before and after the intervention under standardized laboratory conditions. Aerobic capacity will be estimated using a ramp test protocol, anaerobic performance will be evaluated using a short maximal cycling test, and balance will be assessed through validated static and dynamic balance tests. Pulmonary function, body composition, and heart rate responses will also be recorded to provide a comprehensive evaluation of physiological adaptations.

The study is conducted at Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, and has received approval from the institutional ethics committee. All participants will provide written informed consent prior to participation. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to evidence-based exercise programming by clarifying whether respiratory muscle support through diaphragmatic kinesio taping enhances the benefits of HIIT in trained individuals.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 18-35 years
  • Male or female trained individuals
  • At least 6 months of regular training history
  • Training at least 3-5 days per week
  • Estimated VO₂max ≥ 50 ml/kg/min
  • No known contraindication to high-intensity exercise
  • No allergy or skin condition preventing kinesio taping
  • Able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic disease (e.g., asthma, COPD, diabetes, heart disease)
  • Major musculoskeletal injury or surgery within the past 6 months
  • Any pathology affecting diaphragm or respiratory muscles
  • Active smoking or substance abuse
  • Use of performance-enhancing drugs
  • Skin disease in the abdominal region

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: HIIT + Diaphragmatic Kinesio Taping
Participants perform an 8-week HIIT program and receive diaphragmatic kinesio taping before each training session.
Behavioral: High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
Participants perform an 8-week supervised high-intensity interval training program on a cycle ergometer, three times per week. Each session includes warm-up, alternating high- and low-intensity intervals targeting 85-95% of maximal heart rate, and cool-down.
Other: Diaphragmatic Kinesio Taping
Elastic kinesio tape is applied to the diaphragmatic region before each training session using a standardized technique to support inspiratory muscle activity and facilitate breathing.
Active Comparator: HIIT Only
Participants perform the same 8-week HIIT program without kinesio taping.
Behavioral: High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
Participants perform an 8-week supervised high-intensity interval training program on a cycle ergometer, three times per week. Each session includes warm-up, alternating high- and low-intensity intervals targeting 85-95% of maximal heart rate, and cool-down.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Aerobic Capacity (VO₂max)
Time Frame: From baseline to the end of the 8-week intervention
Change in maximal oxygen uptake estimated from a ramp exercise test performed on a cycle ergometer at baseline and after the 8-week intervention.
From baseline to the end of the 8-week intervention
Anaerobic Performance (Wingate Test)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Change in peak power, mean power, and fatigue index measured by the 30-second Wingate anaerobic test at baseline and after the 8-week intervention.
Baseline and after 8 weeks
Dynamic Balance (Y-Balance Test)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Change in normalized reach distances in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions measured by the Y-Balance Test at baseline and after the 8-week intervention.
Baseline and after 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Agri Ibrahim Cecen University

Collaborators

Uludag University
Health Institutes of Turkey

Investigators

  • Study Director: Fadıl Özyener, Prof. Dr., Uludag University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

September 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 29, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 29, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 5, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • BUU-FIZ-HIIT-KT-2025

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared publicly because the dataset contains potentially identifiable information and participants did not provide consent for open data sharing. Aggregated and anonymized results will be made available through publications.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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