Does athletic tape really work? Here’s what experts say

The benefits of kinesiology tape, the colorful tape stretched over the limbs of almost every athlete these days, may lie more in the mind than in the muscles.

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In a large new analysis, published Tuesday in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, Chinese researchers reviewed more than 100 studies involving 15,812 participants who used kinesiology tape therapy to treat musculoskeletal disorders, including arthritis, osteoporosis, and back and neck pain.

Kinesiology tape, also called KT tape, is a flexible, adhesive cotton strip frequently attached to athletes’ joints, limbs, or major muscle areas. It is touted as a treatment and protection against sports injuries, to stabilize joints and manage pain. Tennis champion Serena Williams wore it on her cheek and Olympic athletes, especially volleyball players, use it everywhere.

The new study concluded that the tape can provide immediate, short-term pain relief and improve limb function, but the evidence is “highly uncertain” and the overall effects of kinesiology tape are inconsistent.

The researchers, who did not respond to a request for comment, noted that AC can “improve subjective outcomes” that can positively affect a patient’s performance. This discovery “should not be overlooked,” the researchers wrote.

In other words, what’s actually happening is likely a positive placebo effect, scientists suggest.

It’s unclear exactly how kinesiology tape works, but previous research suggests it promotes healing by lifting the skin around the injured ligament, increasing circulation. It may also relieve pain by reducing swelling and inflammation around pain receptors and blood vessels.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, physical therapists typically recommend that patients put tape on their Achilles tendon, back, knee, or soles of their feet.

The KT tape may provide some short-term relief, but “there’s a lot of fuzzy data” about the benefits, said Dr. Rachel Frank, professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

“This study doesn’t show that there is a huge clinical benefit,” said Frank, who was not involved in the new research. “So, generally, when recommended by a healthcare professional, KT taping is not a stand-alone treatment and it certainly does not replace regulated rehabilitation and other treatment protocols. »

Wear KT for an added “edge”

In a 2021 online survey of members of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, and the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy, 40% of respondents reported using the tape as a placebo for their patients.

A placebo effect can help people “feel better” even if the tape has no impact on their physique, Frank said.

That may not be a bad thing, said Joshua Gellert, a physical therapist and certified clinical sports specialist at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

The tape may increase the amount of “sensory feedback” in the body, which may make people feel physically supported, said Gellert, who was not involved in the new research.

“It can promote a sense of security,” he said. “If you don’t feel safe in your body after an injury, it can create a whole host of involuntary compensation or movement avoidance patterns.”

Gellert says the added benefit tape can provide is why professional athletes often wear it on the field.

Should you use KT tape?

Although KT may cause skin irritation, especially in older adults with thinner skin, if it helps, continue using it.

However, after an injury, taping should be a secondary therapy, experts said.

Likewise, the new study acknowledged that the benefits of taping pale in comparison to other interventions like exercise.

For those who are injured, Gellert recommends the “pillars of recovery,” which include adequate sleep, hydration and nutrition. Strength training and a high-protein diet also help.

“There are a lot of things in medicine where, if they don’t cause harm and patients feel they benefit from them, we don’t tell them to leave them out,” Frank said.