Delayed Onset Muscle SorenessNCT04128670
Effects of Kinesio Tape on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
A study testing Kinesiotape in people with Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, run by Indiana University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Kinesio tape on delayed onset muscle soreness of the biceps muscle of your arm following strenuous exercise of the bicep muscle. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
- What is being tested?
- Kinesiotape
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 30 Jan 2020to 30 May 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 to 30 years old
Who cannot join
- Participating in any strengthening exercises or activities of the upper extremities for the past month.
- Regularly (~2x per month) participating in strengthening exercises or activities that include lengthening actions of the upper extremity for the past 6 months.
- An answer of yes to any of the seven questions on the first page of the 2019 Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire [PAR-Q: 16] indicating that the subject is not physically ready for exercise without a medical exam. These exclusions include the following:
- If participant's doctor has ever said that he/she has a heart condition or high blood pressure
- Pain in chest at rest, during daily activities of living, or when doing physical activity
- If participant has ever lost balance because of dizziness or has lost consciousness in the past 12 months
Show all 16Show fewer
- If the participant currently has (or have had within the past 12 months) a bone, joint, or soft tissue (muscle, ligament, or tendon) problem that could be made worse by becoming more physically activity
- If participant is currently taking prescribed medications for a chronic medical condition
- If the participant's doctor has ever told them that they should only do medically supervised physical activity.
- Currently taking nutritional supplements or anti-inflammatory medication on a daily basis
- Any injury or surgery to the neck or upper extremity in the past 6 months
- Open or scabbed wounds in the arm area to be taped
- Known allergies to the tape or medical adhesive bandages
- If skin irritation develops to the tape
- Session exclusion criteria:
- ● Taking over-the-counter pain medications on days of testing, prior to testing sessions, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202
Kelly M Naugle, 317-274-0601, kmnaugle@iupui.edu
About this study
The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Kinesio tape on delayed onset muscle soreness of the biceps muscle of your arm following strenuous exercise of the bicep muscle.
Read the detailed description
Participants will complete 4 testing sessions that will be held on 4 separate days (Baseline, Eccentric Exercise day, 48 hours post exercise, and 72 hours post exercise). All sessions will take place in the National Institute of Fitness and Sport, where the Department of Kinesiology laboratories are located.
During the first session (Baseline), the purpose and procedures of the research will be explained by the investigator, co-investigator, or a research assistant in more detail. Participants will read and sign the informed consent form and then undergo an exclusion/inclusion criteria assessment which includes the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), and brief questionnaire. All study personnel/staff obtaining informed consent will be trained in the responsible conduct of research. All participants will be asked if they have a known allergy to Kinesio Tape (KT) or if they have sensitive skin. Those with sensitive skin will be administered an allergy test. After screening and enrollment, participants will complete baseline assessments of muscle pain and function, pain sensitivity, and psychological risk factors (See outcome measures).
During Session 2, strength of the non-dominant bicep will be measured first. Participants will then perform an eccentric exercise protocol designed to induce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) on the non-dominant arm. Strength of the non-dominant bicep will be measured immediately post the eccentric exercise protocol. At the end of this session, subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups (experimental KT group, placebo KT group) or a control group (i.e., no intervention performed). The experimental group will receive KT with proper technique and tension (10-20%), while the placebo group will receive KT without technique and tension.
Sessions 3 and 4 will occur approximately 48 and 72 hours post Session 2, respectively. All the outcome variables will be measured during these sessions. For participants in the KT groups, the tape will be removed at the end of session 4, as described below.
- Conditions
- Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
- Being tested
- Kinesiotape
- Keywords
- kinesio tape, muscle soreness, eccentric exercise, muscle pain
- Medical subject headings
- Myalgia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
KinesiotapeDevice
Tape will be applied to the biceps muscle of the nondominant arm from approximately the shoulder to the elbow for up to 72 hours. For the KT group taping will be applied with a lymphatic application method according to the guidelines recommended by Kenzo Kase. This type of application is known to improve blood and lymphatic circulation which enhances the removal of metabolic products. It is recommended that the application of the tape for lymphatic correction be applied for 24-72 hours. The tape will be applied with a tension of 10-20%.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiotape (KT) | Experimental | Tape will be applied to the biceps muscle of the nondominant arm from approximately the shoulder to the elbow for up to 72 hours. For the KT group taping will be applied with a lymphatic application method according to the guidelines recommended by Kenzo Kase. This type of application is known to improve blood and lymphatic circulation which enhances the removal of metabolic products. The tape will be applied with a tension of 10-20%. Receives: Device: Kinesiotape |
| Placebo Kinesiotape | Placebo comparator | Tape will be applied to the biceps muscle of the nondominant arm from approximately the shoulder to the elbow for up to 72 hours. The placebo KT group will have 0% tension. Receives: Device: Kinesiotape |
| No Tape | No intervention | This group will not receive any intervention. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
change in worst pain in previous 24 hours
Brief Pain Inventory
Measured: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Change in average pain in previous 24 hours
Brief Pain Inventory
Measured: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Change in pain during elbow extension and elbow flexion
Subjects will perform the following elbow movements: 1) moving from a fully flexed starting position through active range of motion to full extension 2) moving from a fully extended starting position through active range of motion to full flexion. Ratings of muscle pain intensity will be assessed following each contraction using a 0-100 scale, with "0" indicating "no pain" and "100" indicating the "most intense pain imaginable".
Measured: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Change in pressure pain threshold of the affected biceps
Using a hand-held, clinical grade pressure algometer (Wagner Instruments, Greenwich, CT), pressure will be applied to the biceps brachii muscle of the affected (non-dominant) arm while the arm is stationary at approximately 90 degrees of elbow flexion. Pressure will increase at a rate of about 1kg/s until the subject first reports feeling pain.
Measured: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Change in Active Total Elbow Range of Motion (AT-ROM)
AT-ROM in elbow flexion and extension of the elbow joint will be measured with a standard goniometer and the subject in the supine position on a padded table. The subject is instructed to flex and extend the non-dominant arm at the elbow "as far as you can". Elbow flexion and extension is assessed in the sagittal plane with the arm parallel to the trunk and in the anatomic position. The center fulcrum of the goniometer is placed over the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. The stationary arm of the goniometer is fixed along the lateral midline of the humerus in line with the acromion process and the moving arm along the lateral midline of the radius in the line with the styloid. Three measurements of active elbow flexion and extension will be conducted at each assessment time point, with the average of the three measurements used as the outcome measure for each time point.
Measured: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Change in pain during elbow flexion and extension
Subjects will perform the following elbow movements: 1) moving from a fully flexed starting position through active range of motion to full extension 2) moving from a fully extended starting position through active range of motion to full flexion. Ratings of muscle pain intensity will be assessed following each contraction using a 0-100 scale, with "0" indicating "no pain" and "100" indicating the "most intense pain imaginable".
Measured: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Change in Maximal Strength of non-dominant bicep.
Maximal strength will be assessed by performing a maximal contraction with the arm flexed at 90 degrees. The participant will be seated on a Biodex strength testing machine, with both feet on a support and the upper arm supported at 45 degrees of shoulder flexion by a padded support arm, with the forearm flexed at 90 degrees during the contraction. Three maximal contractions will be performed at 60 degrees per second with 60 seconds of rest between trials.
Measured: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change in Self-reported function of the affected arm
The QuickDASH focuses on the subject's ability to use the affected arm during activities of daily living [23,24]. Subjects rate their symptoms and ability to perform specific tasks using a 5-pt hierarchical Likert scale. A score of zero represents no dysfunction at all, while higher scores represent more limitations in self-reported function, with a score of 100 being the highest possible score.
Measured: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Pain catastrophizing
Will be measured with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. It is a self-report measure, consisting of 13 items scored from 0 to 4, resulting in a total possible score of 52. The higher the score, the more catastrophizing thoughts are present.
Measured: This instrument will be administered at baseline
Fear of movement or reinjury
Will be measured with the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia -- (TSK-11). total TSK-11 scores range from 11-44 points with higher scores indicating greater fear of pain, movement, and injury.
Measured: This instrument will be administered at baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Oct 2019
- Study start30 Jan 2020
- Primary completion30 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 May 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Delayed Onset Muscle SorenessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Indiana UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Randomized single-blind controlled trial
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Indiana University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Kelly Naugle, PhD, Indiana University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04128670
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1908530527
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 11 Oct 2019
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Kinesio Tape on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04128670
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1908530527
- Conditions
- Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
- Keywords
- kinesio tape, muscle soreness, eccentric exercise, muscle pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Indiana UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Jan 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Oct 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Kinesio tape on delayed onset muscle soreness of the biceps muscle of your arm following strenuous exercise of the bicep muscle.
Detailed description
Participants will complete 4 testing sessions that will be held on 4 separate days (Baseline, Eccentric Exercise day, 48 hours post exercise, and 72 hours post exercise). All sessions will take place in the National Institute of Fitness and Sport, where the Department of Kinesiology laboratories are located.
During the first session (Baseline), the purpose and procedures of the research will be explained by the investigator, co-investigator, or a research assistant in more detail. Participants will read and sign the informed consent form and then undergo an exclusion/inclusion criteria assessment which includes the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), and brief questionnaire. All study personnel/staff obtaining informed consent will be trained in the responsible conduct of research. All participants will be asked if they have a known allergy to Kinesio Tape (KT) or if they have sensitive skin. Those with sensitive skin will be administered an allergy test. After screening and enrollment, participants will complete baseline assessments of muscle pain and function, pain sensitivity, and psychological risk factors (See outcome measures).
During Session 2, strength of the non-dominant bicep will be measured first. Participants will then perform an eccentric exercise protocol designed to induce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) on the non-dominant arm. Strength of the non-dominant bicep will be measured immediately post the eccentric exercise protocol. At the end of this session, subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups (experimental KT group, placebo KT group) or a control group (i.e., no intervention performed). The experimental group will receive KT with proper technique and tension (10-20%), while the placebo group will receive KT without technique and tension.
Sessions 3 and 4 will occur approximately 48 and 72 hours post Session 2, respectively. All the outcome variables will be measured during these sessions. For participants in the KT groups, the tape will be removed at the end of session 4, as described below.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Randomized single-blind controlled trial
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiotape (KT) | Experimental | Device: KinesiotapeTape will be applied to the biceps muscle of the nondominant arm from approximately the shoulder to the elbow for up to 72 hours. For the KT group taping will be applied with a lymphatic application method according to the guidelines recommended by Kenzo Kase. This type of application is known to improve blood and lymphatic circulation which enhances the removal of metabolic products. The tape will be applied with a tension of 10-20%. |
| Placebo Kinesiotape | Placebo comparator | Device: KinesiotapeTape will be applied to the biceps muscle of the nondominant arm from approximately the shoulder to the elbow for up to 72 hours. The placebo KT group will have 0% tension. |
| No Tape | No intervention | –This group will not receive any intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- 18 to 30 years old
Key exclusion criteria (16 listed)
- Participating in any strengthening exercises or activities of the upper extremities for the past month.
- Regularly (~2x per month) participating in strengthening exercises or activities that include lengthening actions of the upper extremity for the past 6 months.
- An answer of yes to any of the seven questions on the first page of the 2019 Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire [PAR-Q: 16] indicating that the subject is not physically ready for exercise without a medical exam. These exclusions include the following:
- Currently taking nutritional supplements or anti-inflammatory medication on a daily basis
- Any injury or surgery to the neck or upper extremity in the past 6 months
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| KinesiotapeTape will be applied to the biceps muscle of the nondominant arm from approximately the shoulder to the elbow for up to 72 hours. For the KT group taping will be applied with a lymphatic application method according to the guidelines recommended by Kenzo Kase. This type of application is known to improve blood and lymphatic circulation which enhances the removal of metabolic products. It is recommended that the application of the tape for lymphatic correction be applied for 24-72 hours. The tape will be applied with a tension of 10-20%. | Device | Kinesiotape (KT), Placebo Kinesiotape |
Primary outcome
change in worst pain in previous 24 hours
Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Brief Pain Inventory
Change in average pain in previous 24 hours
Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Brief Pain Inventory
Change in pain during elbow extension and elbow flexion
Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Subjects will perform the following elbow movements: 1) moving from a fully flexed starting position through active range of motion to full extension 2) moving from a fully extended starting position through active range of motion to full flexion. Ratings of muscle pain intensity will be assessed following each contraction using a 0-100 scale, with "0" indicating "no pain" and "100" indicating the "most intense pain imaginable".
Change in pressure pain threshold of the affected biceps
Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Using a hand-held, clinical grade pressure algometer (Wagner Instruments, Greenwich, CT), pressure will be applied to the biceps brachii muscle of the affected (non-dominant) arm while the arm is stationary at approximately 90 degrees of elbow flexion. Pressure will increase at a rate of about 1kg/s until the subject first reports feeling pain.
Change in Active Total Elbow Range of Motion (AT-ROM)
Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
AT-ROM in elbow flexion and extension of the elbow joint will be measured with a standard goniometer and the subject in the supine position on a padded table. The subject is instructed to flex and extend the non-dominant arm at the elbow "as far as you can". Elbow flexion and extension is assessed in the sagittal plane with the arm parallel to the trunk and in the anatomic position. The center fulcrum of the goniometer is placed over the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. The stationary arm of the goniometer is fixed along the lateral midline of the humerus in line with the acromion process and the moving arm along the lateral midline of the radius in the line with the styloid. Three measurements of active elbow flexion and extension will be conducted at each assessment time point, with the average of the three measurements used as the outcome measure for each time point.
Change in pain during elbow flexion and extension
Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Subjects will perform the following elbow movements: 1) moving from a fully flexed starting position through active range of motion to full extension 2) moving from a fully extended starting position through active range of motion to full flexion. Ratings of muscle pain intensity will be assessed following each contraction using a 0-100 scale, with "0" indicating "no pain" and "100" indicating the "most intense pain imaginable".
Change in Maximal Strength of non-dominant bicep.
Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Maximal strength will be assessed by performing a maximal contraction with the arm flexed at 90 degrees. The participant will be seated on a Biodex strength testing machine, with both feet on a support and the upper arm supported at 45 degrees of shoulder flexion by a padded support arm, with the forearm flexed at 90 degrees during the contraction. Three maximal contractions will be performed at 60 degrees per second with 60 seconds of rest between trials.
3 secondary outcomes
Change in Self-reported function of the affected arm
Time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol
Pain catastrophizing
Time frame: This instrument will be administered at baseline
Fear of movement or reinjury
Time frame: This instrument will be administered at baseline
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Oct 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Kinesiotape in people with Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, run by Indiana University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 16 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Kelly M Naugle, PhD (3172740601 ext. 3172740601, kmnaugle@iupui.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
change in worst pain in previous 24 hours (time frame: This measure will be assessed at baseline and 48 hours and 72 hours following completion of the eccentric exercise protocol). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Oct 2026.