The effect of kinesiology tape on countermovement jump performance in recreationally active and varsity volleyball females

Abstract

Context: The countermovement jump (CMJ) is commonly used to assess lower-extremity explosive performance and stretch-shortening cycle (SSC)-related force-time characteristics in volleyball athletes. Although kinesiology tape (KT) has been proposed to influence muscle function through mechanical and sensory effects, research examining its influence on vertical jump performance has produced inconsistent findings. Most previous jumping studies have also focused on jump height or isolated kinetic measures, while the effects of KT applied specifically to the superficial quadriceps on phase-specific CMJ mechanics remain unclear. Objective: To examine the effects of acute bilateral KT application to the superficial quadriceps on vertical power and CMJ performance assessed through phase-specific kinetic, kinematic, and temporal characteristics between recreationally active females and competitive female volleyball athletes. Design: Two-group, pre-test post-test mixed design. Method: Twenty-four females participated, including 12 recreationally active participants (21.8 ± 2.0 years) and 12 competitive volleyball athletes (19.9 ± 2.0 years). KT was applied bilaterally to the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis with approximately 25% stretch. Participants completed three maximal-effort CMJs under no-tape and KT conditions, with condition order randomized and counterbalanced within each group. Vertical ground reaction force was recorded at 1000 Hz using an Advanced Mechanical Technology, Inc. force platform and processed using MATLAB. Dependent variables included jump height, reactive strength index (RSI), peak unweighting velocity, countermovement depth, braking rate of force development (RFD), vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) at zero velocity, peak propulsion power, total time to take-off, and unweighting, braking, and propulsion phase times. Separate 2 x 2 mixed ANOVAs were conducted for each dependent variable, with follow-up simple effects tests performed when significant interactions were identified. Statistical significance was established at α = .05. Results: No significant main effect of taping condition was identified for jump height, RSI, peak propulsion power, braking RFD, vGRF at zero velocity, peak unweighting velocity, countermovement depth, total time to take-off, braking time, or propulsion time. Peak propulsion power demonstrated a significant main effect of group (F(1,22) = 7.76, p < .05, η² = .26), with the competitive volleyball group producing greater values than the recreationally active group regardless of taping condition. Unweighting phase time demonstrated a significant Group x Taping Condition interaction (F(1,22) = 7.41, p < .05, ηp² = .25). Follow-up analysis indicated that mean unweighting time decreased from 0.61 s in the no-tape condition to 0.56 s with KT in the competitive volleyball group (t(11) = 2.97, p < .05, d = .86), whereas no significant change occurred in the recreationally active group. The reduction in unweighting time was not accompanied by improvements in subsequent kinetic variables, jump height, or RSI. Conclusions: Acute bilateral KT applied to the superficial quadriceps with 25% stretch did not provide evidence of improved CMJ performance or the measured phase-specific force-time characteristics in recreationally active females or competitive female volleyball athletes. Although KT reduced unweighting time in the competitive volleyball group, the isolated temporal change was not accompanied by enhanced kinetic output or jump performance. Competitive volleyball athletes demonstrated greater peak propulsion power than recreationally active females, but this difference did not correspond with significantly greater jump height or RSI. These findings are specific to the acute quadriceps KT application and stretch magnitude examined.