You may have seen athletes in various sporting events such as the Olympics with intricate designs of colorful tape on their shoulder, knee, or other areas of the body. Kinesiology taping has been used for almost 40 years, originally developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase in 1979. There are multiple brands of kinesiology tape as well as different methods of taping used to treat specific symptoms. Various professions including physical and occupational therapy have integrated kinesiology taping into practice in order to optimize patient outcomes.
There is still ongoing research about the use and effectiveness of kinesiology taping. Kinesiology tape has been shown to improve range of motion and decrease pain in subjects with whiplash1; decrease pain and disability in subjects with chronic low back pain2; improve range of motion and decrease pain in subjects with shoulder impingement3; increase muscle force production4; speed up muscle activation5; improve muscle recruitment6; and positively affect gait mechanics in individuals with shin splints7. Some studies have shown that the effects of the kinesiology tape can last even after the tape is removed; for example, Jackson et al showed that study participants with chronic ankle instability who had their ankle taped had improved balance, even 72 hours after removal8.
It is unclear what the exact mechanism is of the kinesiology tape. However, it is thought to have a decompressing effect on the superficial layers of skin and underlying tissues. Research by Kafa et al. has shown that the distance between the epidermis (the outer layer of skin) and the dermis (the layer of skin deep to the epidermis) increased with KT application on animal subjects following trauma9. By decompressing these layers pressure is taken off of nerve endings which send pain signals to the brain, thereby decreasing pain. Improved circulation and decreased swelling can also result as the blood and lymphatic vessels that pass through the superficial skin layers are decompressed.
Kinesiology taping has also been shown to affect more than just the skin. Different nerve receptors in the skin process stimuli from the skin such as pain, temperature, and pressure which is then processed in the brain. Callaghan et al showed that when kinesiology tape was applied to the knee, areas in the brain associated with sensory processing were more stimulated10. Other areas of the brain including those involved with coordination, decision making, and planning were also more stimulated in individuals with the tape applied. This shows that the application of kinesiology tape can have a wider effect on the body and how it functions10.
Although there is still much research to be done, kinesiology taping has been shown to be effective in treating many conditions that are commonly seen in physical and occupational therapy. If you are unsure whether you would benefit from kinesiology taping, talk to your physical therapist or occupational therapist who can determine if this technique is right for you.
Content provided by Jenna Juarez, DPT
References
1. González-Iglesias J, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Cleland JA, Huijbregts P, Del Rosario Gutiérrez-Vega M. Short-Term Effects of Cervical Kinesio Taping on Pain and Cervical Range of Motion in Patients With Acute Whiplash Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Orthop Sports PhysTher. 2009 Jul;39(7):515-21.
2. Parreira PdCS, Costa LdCM, Takahashi R, et al. Kinesio taping to generate skin convolutions is not better than sham taping for people with chronic non-specific low back pain: A randomised trial. J Physiother. 2014;60(2):90-96.
3. Thelen MD, Dauber JA, Stoneman PD. The clinical efficacy of kinesio tape for shoulder pain: A randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2008;38(7):389-395.
4. Lumbroso D, Ziv E, Vered E, Kalichman L. The effect of kinesio tape application on hamstring and gastrocnemius muscles in healthy young adults. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2014;18(1):130-138.
5. Chen P, Hong W, Lin C, Chen W. Biomechanics effects of kinesio taping for persons with patellofemoral pain syndrome during stair climbing. 4th Kuala Lumpur International Conference on Biomedical Engineering. 2008;21:395-397.
6. Bae S, Lee J, Oh K, Kim K. The effects of kinesio taping on potential in chronic low back pain patients anticipatory postural control and cerebral cortex. J Phys Ther Sci. 2013;25(11):1367-1371.
7. Griebert MC, Needle AR, McConnell J, Kaminski TW. Lower-leg kinesio tape reduces rate of loading in participants with medial tibial stress syndrome. Phys Ther Sport. 2014: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2014.01.001.
8. Jackson K, Simon JE, Docherty CL. Extended Use of Kinesiology Tape and Balance in Participants With Chronic Ankle Instability. Journal of Athletic Training. 2016;51(1):16-21. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-51.2.03.
9. Nihan Kafa PhD, PT, Seyit Citaker PhD, PT, Suna Omeroglu MD, Tuncay Peker MD, Neslihan Coskun MSc & Seyda Diker PhD. Effects of kinesiologic taping on epidermal–dermal distance, pain, edema and inflammation after experimentally induced soft tissue trauma. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 2015;31(8):556-561. DOI: 10.3109/09593985.2015.1062943
10. Callaghan MJ et al. Effects of patellar taping on brain activity during knee joint proprioception tests using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Physical Therapy. 2012; 92(6): 821-830.
