Upper Extremity FunctionKT-PLACEBONCT07515183
Placebo Effect of Immediate Kinesio Taping on Upper Extremity Performance in Healthy Adults
A study testing Kinesio Taping in people with Upper Extremity Function and Motor Performance, run by Istinye University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study investigates whether Kinesio Taping has immediate effects on upper extremity performance in healthy adults and whether these effects may be influenced by placebo mechanisms. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: therapeutic Kinesio Taping, sham Kinesio Taping, or no intervention. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Upper Extremity Function, Motor Performance, Healthy Volunteers
- What is being tested?
- Kinesio Taping
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2026to 30 Jun 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
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
- Being healthy adult between 18-40 years
- No current pain or injury in the dominant upper extremity
- No history of chronic musculoskeletal conditions affecting the upper extremity
- Ability to read, understand, and provide informed consent
- Regular use of a standard keyboard and mouse, with a minimum self-reported typing frequency of ≥5 hours per week, ensuring familiarity with digital typing tasks and adequate baseline fine motor coordination.
Who cannot join
- Respiratory, neurological, or cardiovascular disorders
- History of surgery or fracture in the dominant upper extremity within the last six months
- Known allergy or skin sensitivity to adhesives or Kinesio Tape materials
- Current use of medications affecting physical performance or sensation
- Participation in ongoing physical therapy or rehabilitation
- Diagnosed cognitive impairment or visual deficits that could affect typing or reaction-time performance
- Engagement in high-level upper extremity sports (>10 hours/week) that could bias grip or typing performance
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Istinye University Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Application and Research Center (ISUFIZYOTEM)
Istanbul, Istanbul, 34010
About this study
Official title: Immediate Effects of Kinesio Taping on Upper Extremity Motor Performance and Perceived Function in Healthy Adults: A Sham-controlled Randomized Study
This study investigates whether Kinesio Taping has immediate effects on upper extremity performance in healthy adults and whether these effects may be influenced by placebo mechanisms. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: therapeutic Kinesio Taping, sham Kinesio Taping, or no intervention.
All participants complete tests of hand function, including grip strength, typing performance, reaction time, and manual dexterity, before and after a short standardized waiting period. Participants also rate their perceived performance, comfort, and overall change.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the immediate effects of therapeutic Kinesio Taping on objective upper extremity motor performance and perceived function in healthy adults, and to determine whether perceived improvements correspond to measurable changes in motor performance.
Read the detailed description
This study is a single-blind, three-arm randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the immediate effects of Kinesio Taping on upper extremity motor performance and perceived function in healthy adults and to compare therapeutic Kinesio Taping with sham Kinesio Taping and a no-intervention control condition.. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: therapeutic Kinesio Taping applied with tension, sham Kinesio Taping applied without tension, or a no-intervention control condition.
The intervention targets the wrist extensor musculature of the dominant upper extremity. Both taping conditions follow the same application procedure and positioning, differing only in the level of tension to isolate the mechanical versus perceptual effects of the tape. The control group follows the same testing timeline without receiving any intervention.
Outcome measures are collected at baseline and immediately after a standardized 20-minute waiting period. Objective measures include maximal grip strength, typing performance, choice reaction time, and manual dexterity. Subjective measures include perceived performance, task ease, comfort, and global rating of change.
The study is conducted in a controlled and standardized testing environment with consistent equipment, procedures, and instructions across participants. This design enables comparison of both objective upper extremity motor performance and patient-reported outcomes among the therapeutic Kinesio Taping, sham Kinesio Taping, and no-intervention control groups.
- Being tested
- Kinesio Taping, Sham Kinesio Taping
- Keywords
- Kinesio Taping, Placebo Effect, Upper Extremity Performance, Grip Strength, Reaction Time, Manual Dexterity, Healthy Adults, Sham-Controlled Trial, Strength
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Kinesio TapingDevice
Elastic therapeutic tape applied to the wrist extensor muscles of the dominant upper extremity using approximately 25% tension according to a standardized application protocol.
Sham Kinesio TapingDevice
Elastic tape applied to the wrist extensor muscles of the dominant upper extremity without tension, using the same placement and procedure as the therapeutic intervention to mimic sensory and procedural aspects without intended therapeutic effect.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic Kinesio Taping | Experimental | Participants receive Kinesio Taping applied to the wrist extensor muscles of the dominant upper extremity using approximately 25% therapeutic tension, following a standardized application protocol. Receives: Device: Kinesio Taping |
| Sham Kinesio Taping | Sham comparator | Participants receive Kinesio Taping applied to the same anatomical region using an identical procedure but without tension, to simulate the intervention without therapeutic effect. Receives: Device: Sham Kinesio Taping |
| Control Group | No intervention | Participants do not receive any taping intervention and remain seated in a standardized position for 20 minutes before post-intervention assessments. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Maximal Grip Strength
Maximal grip strength of the dominant hand measured in kilograms using a digital hand dynamometer. The highest value from three trials is recorded.
Measured: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (within 2-3 minutes after a 20-minute waiting period)
Secondary outcomes (7)
Typing Performance (Corrected Words Per Minute) and Accuracy
Typing speed measured using a standardized computer-based typing task; corrected words per minute calculated by accounting for errors And Typing accuracy measured as the percentage of correct entries during a standardized typing task.
Measured: Baseline and immediately post-intervention
Choice Reaction Time
Reaction time measured in milliseconds using a computer-based Go/No-Go task, calculated as the mean response time for correct trials.
Measured: Baseline and immediately post-intervention
Manual Dexterity (Nine-Hole Peg Test)
Fine motor dexterity assessed using the Nine-Hole Peg Test; fastest completion time recorded in seconds.
Measured: Baseline and immediately post-intervention
Perceived Performance Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Self-reported perceived performance measured using a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates no perceived improvement and 100 indicates maximum perceived improvement. Higher scores indicate better perceived performance.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention
Task Ease Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Self-reported task ease measured using a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates much harder, 50 indicates no change, and 100 indicates much easier. Higher scores indicate greater perceived ease of task performance.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention
Comfort Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Self-reported comfort measured using a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates extremely uncomfortable and 100 indicates extremely comfortable. Higher scores indicate greater comfort.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention
Global Rating of Change (GRC)
Participant-reported overall perceived change measured using a 15-point Global Rating of Change (GRC) scale ranging from -7 (vastly worse) to 0 (no change) to +7 (vastly better). Higher scores indicate greater perceived improvement.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Apr 2026
- Study start1 Apr 2026
- Primary completion1 Jun 2026
- Study completion30 Jun 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Upper Extremity FunctionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants are randomly assigned to one of three parallel groups: therapeutic Kinesio Taping, sham Kinesio Taping, or no-intervention control. Each participant remains in their assigned group for the duration of the study. Outcome measures are assessed at baseline and immediately after a standardized 20-minute period, allowing comparison of changes between groups.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istinye University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Abeer Mohamed Abdulla Sayed, Istinye University
- Investigators
- Begüm kara Kaya, PhD, Study chair, Biruni University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07515183
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026/09
- Acronym
- KT-PLACEBO
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 31 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 15 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No