The Effects of Kinesio Taping on Biomechanical and Clinical Outcomes in Runners With Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome

The Effects of Kinesio Taping on Biomechanical and Clinical Outcomes in Runners With Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and effectiveness of the application of Kinesio Taping in the short-term management of ITBFS in an exploratory randomized control study in two patient groups, an experimental group receiving Kinesio Taping with tension, and a control group receiving Kinesio Taping with no tension.

To determine the immediate effects of taping on the three-dimensional joint kinematics and moments of the lower limb during running in ITBFS patients, and to determine any differences between the experimental and control groups.

To determine the immediate effects of taping on muscle activity of the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, tensor fascia lata, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis in ITBFS patients, and to determine any differences between the experimental and control groups.

To determine if the short-term perceptions of pain, symptoms, ADL function, sport and recreation function, quality of Life, and fear of movement are changed with taping, and to determine any differences between the experimental and control groups.

To determine any perceived changes in the stability of the knee joint, comfort and benefits with taping, and to determine any differences between the experimental and control groups.

To determine if muscle strength, muscle length, and functional movement are changed with taping, and to determine any differences between the experimental and control groups.

To explore the relationship between the clinical and biomechanical outcome measures in ITBFS patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged between 18 to 45 years
• Regularly run a minimum of 10 kilometres a week,
• Current symptoms of ITBFS, assessed using the Noble compression test and Ober's test, and pain at lateral femoral condyle during running

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of taking any analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs for 72 hours prior to testing.
• Previous surgery to the lower limbs,
• Skin allergy to kinesio tape,
• Signs or symptoms of other knee pathologies including; patellofemoral pain, knee joint osteoarthritis, lateral meniscus injury, common peroneal nerve injury, refer pain from lumbar spine, superior tibiofibular joint sprain, and popliteus or bicep femoris tendinitis.