The Effects of Kinesiotape on Injury Risk in Young Tennis Players: A Randomized Trial

Abstract

Objective: Prevention from injury is a very important factor affecting success in tennis and Kinesio Taping is a newly rising method for decreasing injury risk in athletes. This study was carried out to determine whether Kinesio Taping reduces the risk of injury to tennis players and, if it decreases, which Kinesio Tape material should be used. Material-Method: Thirty-three young tennis players were included in our study. Assessment were done bare (no tape), after 45 min of Performance Plus Kinesio Taping application and after 45 min of Gold Text Finger Print Kinesio Taping application. Thermal analysis was done for risk of injury including both lower extremities. Quadriceps muscle was chosen from upper leg and gastro soleus muscle was chosen from lower leg region for thermal analysis. Results: Statistically significant differences were found at lower leg and upper leg assessments for both dominant and non-dominat sides in skin temperatures between bare assessment (no tape), Performance Plus Kinesio Taping application and Gold Text Finger Print Kinesio Taping application (p0,05). Conclusion: The results show that Kinesio Taping may be an effective application for decreasing risk of injury but there is no difference between the types of Kinesio Taping material used, as long as it is applied with the same technique.