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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07390721

Diaphragmatic Kinesio Taping With HIIT in Trained Individuals

This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether diaphragmatic kinesio taping provides additional physiological and functional benefits when added to an 8-week supervised high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program in trained adults. Participants were randomly assigned to HIIT with or without diaphragmatic kinesio taping. Both groups completed the same supervised cycle-ergometer HIIT program three times per week for 8 weeks. Assessments were performed at baseline, week 4, and week 8 and included heart-rate variability, aerobic capacity, anaerobic performance, pulmonary function, balance, functional mobility, and body composition.

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Key information

Conditions

Postural Balance Healthy Volunteers Physical Fitness

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Bursa Uludag University

Bursa, Ağrı, 04000, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This randomized controlled trial investigated the additional effects of diaphragmatic kinesio taping during an 8-week supervised cycle-ergometer HIIT program in trained adults. Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to HIIT plus diaphragmatic kinesio taping or the same HIIT program without taping. Both groups trained three times per week. High-intensity intervals targeted 85-95% of maximum heart rate, with active recovery at 55-65% of maximum heart rate. Both groups also performed standardized diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing exercises as part of each supervised session.

Outcomes were assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Assessments included resting heart-rate variability, spirometry, estimated maximal oxygen uptake, Wingate anaerobic performance, static and dynamic balance, timed up-and-go performance, and body composition. The study was conducted at Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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 ≥ 35 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

Treatment and study plan

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Behavioral

Participants completed an 8-week supervised cycle-ergometer HIIT programme three times per week. Each session included 5 min of cycling at 50-60% HRmax, 5 min of controlled diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing, progressive high-intensity intervals targeting 85-95% HRmax with active recovery at 55-65% HRmax, followed by 5 min of low-intensity cycling and 5 min of breathing exercises.

Diaphragmatic Kinesio Taping

Other

Diaphragmatic kinesio taping was applied before each supervised exercise session using a standardized bilateral technique along the lower costal margin. The tape was renewed at each session and removed after completion of the session.

Primary outcomes

  1. Aerobic Capacity (Estimated V̇O₂max)

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Estimated maximal oxygen uptake derived from peak workload achieved during an incremental cycle-ergometer ramp test.

  2. Wingate Peak Power

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Body-mass-normalized peak power achieved during the first 5 seconds of a 30-second Wingate anaerobic test.

  3. Heart Rate Variability (lnRMSSD)

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Natural logarithm of the root mean square of successive RR-interval differences measured during resting heart-rate variability assessment.

  4. Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV₁)

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Forced expiratory volume in 1 second measured by spirometry according to standardized procedures.

  5. Timed Up-and-Go (TUG)

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Time required to stand from a chair, walk 3 m, turn, return, and sit down; lower values indicate better functional mobility.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Heart Rate Variability - SDNN

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN) obtained during resting heart-rate variability assessment.

  2. Heart Rate Variability - LF/HF Ratio

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency components of resting heart-rate variability derived from RR-interval analysis.

  3. Wingate Mean Power

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Body-mass-normalized mean power generated over the 30-second Wingate anaerobic test.

  4. Wingate Fatigue Index

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Percentage decline in power during the 30-second Wingate anaerobic test, expressed as the fatigue index.

  5. Wingate Total Work

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Total work performed during the 30-second Wingate anaerobic test, normalized to body mass.

  6. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Forced vital capacity measured by spirometry and expressed in liters.

  7. FEV₁/FVC Ratio

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity, expressed as a percentage.

  8. Forced Expiratory Flow at 25-75% of FVC (FEF₂₅-₇₅)

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Mean forced expiratory flow during the middle 50% of the forced vital capacity manoeuvre, expressed in liters per second.

  9. Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF)

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Maximum expiratory flow achieved during a forced expiratory manoeuvre, expressed in liters per second.

  10. Vital Capacity (VC)

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Vital capacity measured by spirometry and expressed in liters.

  11. Maximal Voluntary Ventilation (MVV)

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Maximum volume of air voluntarily ventilated over a standardized interval and expressed in liters per minute.

  12. Single-Leg Stance

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Duration of single-leg standing balance performance, expressed in seconds; longer duration indicates better static balance performance.

  13. Balance Error Scoring System (BESS)

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Total number of balance errors recorded during the Balance Error Scoring System assessment; lower scores indicate better postural stability.

  14. Y-Balance Test

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Normalized reach scores in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions and the composite score. The test was performed bilaterally, and analyses were based on the mean of the normalized dominant- and non-dominant-limb scores.

  15. Body Mass Index (BMI)

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Body mass index calculated as body mass in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²).

  16. Body-Fat Percentage

    Time frame: Baseline, week 4, and week 8

    Body-fat percentage estimated from seven-site skinfold measurements using the Jackson-Pollock and Siri equations.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Agri Ibrahim Cecen University

Other

Collaborators

  • Health Institutes of Turkey
  • Uludag University

Registry information

Official study title

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

Acronym: DKT-HIIT

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Feb 5, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 23, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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