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NCT Number: NCT07464795

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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Endurance Calf Test Kinesiotaping

Age range

18 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Trakya University

Edirne, 22100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

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

Treatment and study plan

Kinesio taping

Device

Y-shaped Kinesio Tex elastic tape applied to the gastrocnemius muscle with approximately 50% stretch following muscle facilitation principles.

Sham Taping

Device

Y-shaped Hypafix tape applied to the gastrocnemius muscle without stretch using the same anatomical configuration.

Primary outcomes

  1. Total Concentric Work (J)

    Time frame: Measured during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)

    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).

  2. Percent Change in Gastrocnemius Muscle Oxygen Saturation at 20 Seconds (%ΔSmO₂_20s)

    Time frame: From baseline rest to 20 seconds during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Total number of single-leg heel-rise repetitions

    Time frame: Measured during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)

  2. Peak Heel-Rise Height (cm)

    Time frame: Measured during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)

    Maximum heel-rise height (cm) achieved during the single-leg heel-rise test, measured using the Calf Raise App.

  3. Concentric Power (W)

    Time frame: Measured during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)

    Mean concentric power output (Watts) generated during the single-leg heel-rise test, measured using the Calf Raise App.

  4. End-Exercise Muscle Oxygen Saturation (SmO₂_end)

    Time frame: Measured at task failure during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)

    Muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂) value recorded at the point of task failure during the heel-rise test.

  5. Half-Recovery Time (HRT) of SmO₂

    Time frame: Measured during the 4-minute post-exercise recovery period following the heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)

    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.

  6. Percent Change in Total Hemoglobin at 20 Seconds (%ΔtHb_20s)

    Time frame: From baseline rest to 20 seconds during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)

    Percentage change in total hemoglobin (tHb) at 20 seconds of the heel-rise test relative to baseline (tHb_rest), measured using near-infrared spectroscopy.

  7. Eccentric Work (J) During Single-Leg Heel-Rise Test

    Time frame: Measured during the single-leg heel-rise test in each experimental session (Day 1 and Day 2)

    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.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Muhammed Şeref Yıldırım, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905057443650

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Trakya University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

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

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 11, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 11, 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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