Does kinesio tape alter muscle strength in athletes? - Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Kinesio tape (KT) is still a matter of debate and the results of studies that evaluated its effects on muscle strength in athletes are still contradictory and inconclusive.

Objectives: To analyze randomized clinical trials (RCT) to compare the effects of KT on muscle strength with the control/placebo group among athletes with and without musculoskeletal injury.

Method: The search involved the databases: PubMed, Web of Science, LILACS, PEDro, The Cochrane Library, Medline, Scopus, SPORTDiscus and Embase, without filter and included RCTs evaluating the effects of KT on muscle strength in athletes with or without musculoskeletal injury, comparing it to a control/placebo intervention.