Comparison of the Effects of Kinesio Taping and Graston Application in Individuals With Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

NCT07438431 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024 - 635
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is characterized by pain, stiffness, and discomfort that typically develop 24-72 hours after unaccustomed or intense physical activity. Previous studies suggest that both Kinesio taping and the Graston technique may help reduce DOMS-related symptoms. However, these two approaches have not been directly compared, and their effects on muscle oxygen saturation, peak squat force, and lower-extremity response time remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the short-term effects of Kinesio taping and the Graston technique in healthy participants with exercise-induced DOMS. A total of 36 participants were randomly allocated to three groups: a Kinesio taping group, a Graston technique group, and a control group that received no therapeutic intervention and recovered naturally. Pain severity, muscle oxygen saturation, peak squat force, and lower-extremity response time were assessed 0h after the DOMS-induction protocol, before the interventions, and again 48 hours after the DOMS-induction protocol, corresponding to 48 hours after the interventions were initiated.

Conditions

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)

Keywords

physiotherapy; kinesio taping; graston technique

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Visual Analog Scale

  Pain severity was assessed using a 10-cm horizontal Visual Analog Scale (VAS), anchored by 0 ("no pain") and 10 ("worst imaginable pain"). Participants were asked to mark the point on the line that best represented their perceived pain intensity. The distance from the 0 anchor to the marked point was measured in centimetres using a ruler, with higher scores indicating greater pain severity. Pain was assessed separately at rest and during the squat task.

  48 hours

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Peak Squat Force

  48 hours

• Response Time

  48 hours

• Muscle Oxygen Saturation (SmO₂)

  48 hours

Study Arms (3)

Kinesio Taping

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The group of individuals who will undergo kinesio taping application.

Other: kinesio taping

Graston Technique

EXPERIMENTAL

The group of individuals who will undergo Graston technique application.

Other: Graston Technique

Control

NO INTERVENTION

spontaneous recovery process

Interventions

kinesio taping OTHER

In this study, a lymphatic Kinesio taping technique was applied over the quadriceps femoris muscle. Two 5-cm-wide Kinesio tapes were cut to an appropriate length according to the dimensions of the target area. Each tape was prepared in a fan-cut configuration consisting of an uncut base and five longitudinal tails. The base was applied proximally near the inguinal lymph nodes without tension. The five tails were then applied over the quadriceps femoris with approximately 15% tension, while the terminal portions of the tails were applied without tension. The application was performed with the participant in the supine position and the quadriceps muscle relaxed.

Kinesio Taping

Graston Technique OTHER

The Graston technique, a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, was applied using a stainless-steel instrument and baby oil as a lubricant. Participants were positioned supine with the quadriceps femoris relaxed. The convex surface of the instrument was applied sequentially over the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and vastus medialis muscles in a cranial-to-caudal direction. Each muscle was treated for 2 minutes, resulting in a total treatment duration of 6 minutes per session. The first session was performed immediately after the post-DOMS pre-intervention assessment, and the second session was performed 24 hours later.

Graston Technique

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Being between 18 and 30 years of age
• Being classified as inactive according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire
• Having a body mass index below 25

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of a chronic disease
• History of lower extremity orthopedic disorders or surgery
• Current lower extremity muscle pain
• History of lower extremity trauma within the last month
• Use of medications that may affect the musculoskeletal system (e.g., muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs)
• Caffeine consumption within 24 hours before exercise
• Participation in another exercise or intense physical activity within 24 hours before the test
• Use of performance-enhancing supplements

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gazi University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Gazi University

Ankara, Please Select, 06490, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Heiss R, Lutter C, Freiwald J, Hoppe MW, Grim C, Poettgen K, Forst R, Bloch W, Huttel M, Hotfiel T. Advances in Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) - Part II: Treatment and Prevention. Sportverletz Sportschaden. 2019 Mar;33(1):21-29. doi: 10.1055/a-0810-3516. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

  PMID: 30865998 RESULT

• Stanek J, Sullivan T, Davis S. Comparison of Compressive Myofascial Release and the Graston Technique for Improving Ankle-Dorsiflexion Range of Motion. J Athl Train. 2018 Feb;53(2):160-167. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-386-16. Epub 2018 Jan 26.

  PMID: 29373060 RESULT

• Song W, Yang Y. Effect of Kinesio taping on delayed-onset muscle soreness in elite athletes. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2022 May;62(5):667-672. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12280-7. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

  PMID: 33768777 RESULT

• Camacho MA, Herrera E, Barela JA, Delgado-Diaz DC. Kinesiotaping Diminishes Delayed Muscle Soreness but does not Improve Muscular Performance. Int J Sports Med. 2020 Aug;41(9):596-602. doi: 10.1055/a-1088-5223. Epub 2020 May 12.

  PMID: 32396966 RESULT

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Group allocation was concealed until completion of the DOMS-induction protocol and the post-DOMS pre-intervention assessment. Before allocation was revealed, neither the participants nor the physiotherapist supervising the DOMS-induction protocol were aware of the upcoming group assignment. After the baseline assessment, group allocation was disclosed for intervention delivery. The physiotherapist performing the outcome assessments remained blinded to group allocation throughout the study.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal İnvestigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 18, 2026
• First Posted: February 27, 2026
• Study Start: June 20, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2025
• Study Completion: June 1, 2025
• Last Updated: August 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Locations

TU (1)