Delayed onset muscle soreness is defined as a type of muscle injury resulting from exercise or increased muscle activity. Its symptoms are muscle tenderness, stiffness, soreness and weakness of the affected muscle. One of the popular therapeutic modalities used for alleviating the symptoms of this phenomenon is elastic taping. The purpose of this literature review was to establish effects of elastic or kinesio taping on symptoms and signs of delayed onset muscle soreness. Methods: PubMed, PEDro and CINAHL databases were searched. The search was limited to scientific reports of randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials and controlled cohort studies. Results: Five studies published between 2016 and 2020 met the inclusion criteria. All studies investigated the effects of elastic taping on muscle soreness and muscle performance in healthy adults. Conclusions: The findings show that taping can help reduce muscle soreness after intense exercise, however, it has no effect on recovery of muscle performance. Improper application of elastic tapes can even prolong the symptoms. For optimal treatment effect, it is recommended to apply the tape before or immediately after exercise for at least 24 hours.
|
