Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
07:30
Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
Published on: May 1, 2018
16.1K
TEMPORAL PATTERN OF KINESIOLOGY TAPE EFFICACY ON HAMSTRING EXTENSIBILITY
Claire Farquharson1, Matt Greig1
1Sports Injuries Research Group, Department of Sport & Physical Activity, Edge Hill University, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
|December 18, 2015
Summary
Kinesiology tape (KT) improved hamstring extensibility for up to 2.76 days, outperforming static stretching and PNF. This offers a longer-lasting solution for flexibility compared to immediate or short-term gains from other methods.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Rehabilitation Science
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Muscle flexibility is a modifiable risk factor for sports-related injuries.
- Hamstring injuries are common in athletes, with well-documented epidemiology and etiology.
- Kinesiology tape (KT) is proposed to enhance muscle flexibility over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of kinesiology tape (KT) versus traditional stretching techniques on hamstring extensibility.
- To analyze the temporal pattern of efficacy for each intervention over a five-day period.
Main Methods:
- A controlled laboratory study involving 30 recreationally active males.
- Participants underwent assessments of hamstring extensibility via active knee extension.
- Interventions included Kinesiology tape (KT), static stretch (SS), and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), applied in a randomized order.
- Measurements were taken at baseline and at +1 minute, +30 minutes, +3 days, and +5 days post-intervention.
Main Results:
- Kinesiology tape (KT) application resulted in significantly greater hamstring range of motion (ROM) at +3 days compared to baseline, static stretch (SS), and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF).
- The temporal pattern of ROM changes for SS and PNF were best modeled by a negative linear function, indicating short-term effects.
- KT data was optimized by a quadratic polynomial function, predicting peak efficacy at 2.76 days with a 129.6% increase in ROM relative to baseline.
Conclusions:
- Each intervention demonstrated a distinct temporal pattern for improving hamstring extensibility.
- Static stretching (SS) provided immediate benefits, while proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) showed effects up to 30 minutes.
- Kinesiology tape (KT) offered sustained benefits, peaking around 2.76 days, suggesting its utility for longer-term flexibility improvements in clinical and sporting contexts.
