Effects of Applying Kinesio Tapping on Primary Dysmenorrhea in Football Players

Effects of Applying Kinesio Tapping on Primary Dysmenorrhea in Football Players: Randomized Clinical Trial

The objective of this clinical study is to investigate the effects of applying Kinesio Taping to female soccer players with PD and comparing this application with a placebo group.

Women's football has grown in the last decade, but there is still a need to study how the menstrual cycle affects players' performance. Primary Dysmenorrhea (PD), a common menstrual pain, impacts between 50% and 90% of women, reducing their participation in sporting activities. Many players notice that their performance is affected during the cycle, and the use of anti-inflammatories is not always effective. Therefore, it is important to implement simple measures that improve the quality of life and performance of players. Alternatives such as physical therapy and Kinesio Taping (KT) can help alleviate symptoms. The literature shows that KT is a technique with the potential to produce tactile sensory impulses on the skin, which can block or reduce the arrival of painful sensations to the brain, and could therefore be interesting in the treatment of PD. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effects of applying Kinesio Taping to female soccer players with PD and comparing this application with a placebo group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women practicing football from the Mulheres em Campo project
• Primary dysmenorrhea
• Aged between 15 and 17 years
• Regular menstrual cycle (28 ± 7 days)
• Nulliparous
• Not having an intrauterine contraceptive device or using oral contraceptives
• DP will be defined according to the Visual Analogue Scale from 5 points.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who do not play football in the Mulheres em Campo project
• Secondary dysmenorrhea
• Diagnosed with serious comorbidity
• Skin lesions in the abdominal region
• Allergy to adhesive tapes.