The Effect of Kinesio Taping Tension on the Pain Threshold and Tolerance

The Effect of Kinesio Taping Tension on the Pressure-pain Threshold and Pain Tolerance: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of kinesiotape technique applied in different tensions on pain tolerance (PT) of healthy university students. 100 healthy and volunteer male individuals studying at Mugla Sitki Kocman University Faculty of Health Sciences will participate in the research. Study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of Mugla Sitki Kocman University. The study is designed as a randomized, controlled, double-blind study to be performed on 4 groups consisting of 25 individuals in each group (No tension(Placebo), and 50%, 75%, 100% tensions of Kinesiotape). Kinesiotape will be applied over lateral epicondyle of the dominant extremities with diamond shape technique by a KTAI®certified physiotherapist. PT's will be measured with J-Tech algometer before, immediately and 30 minutes after taping by a different physiotherapist who will be blind to taping tension.

Diamond shape banding method will be applied in a way that 4 bands of 2.5 cm width cut kinesio tape ends on top of each other, leaving the lateral epicondyle region exposed while the elbows are slightly flexed in the supine position. In the groups where different tensions will be applied, the middle points of the tapes will be stretched according to the amount of tensions, and the ends will be taped over each other without tension.In the placebo group, the tapes of the tapes will be applied tensionlessly without overlapping each other. Algometer will be used in the assessment of pressure pain threshold and pain tolerance. Pain severity felt at the level of pain threshold and pain tolerance will be evaluated with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). All measurements will be made before taping, immediately after taping and 30 minutes after taping, will be repeated 3 times and their average values will be recorded. There will be a 60 second rest period between each trial to avoid temporal sensitization. Each assessment will be performed bilaterally by another physiotherapist who is blind to the band tension and has no experience with the kinesio banding technique.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being a male university student over the age of 18
• Volunteering for the study
• Filling out the informed consent form Not having the knowledge and experience about kinesiotaping before

Exclusion Criteria:

• Being diagnosed with lateral epicondylit and its treatment
• Having any neurological disease or systemic disease that disrupts sense / pain perception (diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral vascular disease, etc.)
• Skin sensitivity to elastic banding
• Open wound, ulcer, fungal infection in the area to be taped
• Exposure to upper extremity and / or cervical injury in the past 6 months