Effect of kinesio taping on calf pain after a half marathon: A pilot study

Rafael Merino-Marban; Iván Medina-Porqueres; Beatriz López Aguilar; Daniel Mayorga-Vega

doi:10.33155/j.ramd.2018.09.004

Rafael Merino-Marban Faculty of Educational Science. University of Malaga. Spain.
Iván Medina-Porqueres Faculty of Health Sciences. University of Malaga. Spain.
Beatriz López Aguilar Faculty of Educational Science. University of Malaga. Spain.
Daniel Mayorga-Vega Department of Physical Education and Sport. University of Granada. Spain.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33155/j.ramd.2018.09.004

Keywords: Kinesio tape, Myalgia, Muscle disorder, Analog pain scale, Running

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of kinesio taping on calf pain in healthy runners immediately after a half marathon.

Method: A sample of 13 runner volunteers was recruited in a half marathon. Calf pain measurements were taken at baseline and 10-15 minutes after competition. Kinesio tape was applied to the calf of runners the evening before the competition, only on one leg, with the contralateral leg acting as a control.

Results: The results of the repeated measures ANOVA in the leg differences on pain values did not show statistically significant differences (p = 0.515). However, the effect size after the race could be an indication that kinesio tape might be useful (g = - 0.37) and that studies with the sample calculated would be necessary (n = 61).

Conclusions: When kinesio tape was applied to healthy half marathon runners, the data did not disclose whether the tape could lead to control calf pain produced by the competition.