The Effects of Kinesio Taping on Heel-Rise Endurance and Gastrocnemius Muscle Oxygenation in Healthy Young Adults

Acute Effects of Kinesio Taping on Heel-Rise Endurance and Gastrocnemius Muscle Oxygenation: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial

acilitative kinesio taping (KT) is commonly used by athletes to support muscle performance and delay fatigue. However, evidence regarding its effects on muscle endurance and oxygenation remains inconsistent. This study aims to investigate the acute effects of facilitative KT applied to the gastrocnemius muscle on heel-rise endurance performance and local muscle oxygenation in healthy young adults.

In this randomized crossover trial, participants will complete two experimental sessions: one with facilitative kinesio taping and one with sham taping. After taping application, participants will perform a single-leg heel-rise test to task failure. Muscle oxygenation will be continuously monitored using a portable near-infrared spectroscopy device. The findings of this study may contribute to understanding whether kinesio taping has immediate physiological and performance-related effects on calf muscle endurance.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: KINESIOTAPING; Endurance Calf Test
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Kinesio Taping; Device: Sham Taping

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 34
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Muhammed Şeref Yıldırım, PhD; Phone Number: +905057443650; Email: muhammeds.yildirim@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Edirne
    • Edirne, Edirne, Turkey (Türkiye), 22100
      • Trakya University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Young adults aged 18-25 years
• Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool score of ≥28

Exclusion Criteria:

• Sedentary (<150 min/week moderate or <75 min/week vigorous physical activity)
• Elite athletes
• History of ankle sprain
• Lower extremity fracture
• Surgical intervention
• Neurological or vestibular disorders

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Facilitative Kinesio Taping; Participants will receive facilitative kinesio taping applied to the gastrocnemius muscle using a Y-shaped elastic tape with approximately 50% stretch. After application, participants will perform a single-leg heel-rise test to task failure.	Device: Kinesio Taping; Y-shaped Kinesio Tex elastic tape applied to the gastrocnemius muscle with approximately 50% stretch following muscle facilitation principles.
Sham Comparator: Sham Taping; Participants will receive sham taping applied to the gastrocnemius muscle using a Y-shaped non-elastic tape without stretch. After application, participants will perform a single-leg heel-rise test to task failure.	Device: Sham Taping; Y-shaped Hypafix tape applied to the gastrocnemius muscle without stretch using the same anatomical configuration.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Total Concentric Work (J)	Total concentric (positive) mechanical work (Joules) performed during a metronome-guided single-leg heel-rise test to task failure on the dominant limb. Work output will be measured using the Calf Raise App (computer-vision-based motion analysis).	Measured during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)
Percent Change in Gastrocnemius Muscle Oxygen Saturation at 20 Seconds (%ΔSmO₂_20s)		From baseline rest to 20 seconds during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Total number of single-leg heel-rise repetitions		Measured during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)
Peak Heel-Rise Height (cm)	Maximum heel-rise height (cm) achieved during the single-leg heel-rise test, measured using the Calf Raise App.	Measured during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)
Concentric Power (W)	Mean concentric power output (Watts) generated during the single-leg heel-rise test, measured using the Calf Raise App.	Measured during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)
End-Exercise Muscle Oxygen Saturation (SmO₂_end)	Muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂) value recorded at the point of task failure during the heel-rise test.	Measured at task failure during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)
Half-Recovery Time (HRT) of SmO₂	Time (seconds) required for muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂) to recover to 50% of the difference between end-exercise SmO₂ and peak recovery SmO₂ during the standardized 4-minute recovery period.	Measured during the 4-minute post-exercise recovery period following the heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)
Percent Change in Total Hemoglobin at 20 Seconds (%ΔtHb_20s)	Percentage change in total hemoglobin (tHb) at 20 seconds of the heel-rise test relative to baseline (tHb_rest), measured using near-infrared spectroscopy.	From baseline rest to 20 seconds during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)
Eccentric Work (J) During Single-Leg Heel-Rise Test	Total eccentric (negative) mechanical work (Joules) performed during the metronome-guided single-leg heel-rise test to task failure on the dominant limb, measured using the Calf Raise App.	Measured during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Trakya University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 6, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 6, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: TU-FTR-MŞY-004

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No