The Kinesiology Tape Debate: Powerful Weapon or Pure Placebo Effect?
By: Melinda Burris Willms
No doubt you’ve noticed athletes in all levels of competitive sport wearing brightly colored adhesive tape on the field or court or track of your favorite sport. What is this tape for and why has it become so popular? The article below discusses the uses for kinesiology tape as well as how and why it is used.
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What It Is
Kinesiology tape is often referred to as Kinesio Tex Tape or KT Tape, which is the brand name of the original product featuring this innovative creation by Japanese chiropractor and inventor, Dr. Kenzo Kase in 1979. While traditional athletic tape restricts movement and has been used for decades to mobilize sports-related injuries to protect against further damage, the chief feature of the KT Tape developed by Dr. Kase is its elastic core, noted for allowing flexibility as the tape length expands as the wearer moves. Thus, KT Tape’s manufacturer (and proponents of its use) contend KT Tape offers the support of traditional sports tape while maintaining freedom of motion—an all-important aspect of athletic performance. In fact, a 2018 article by Trainer Magazine pointed out that many believe the tape assists with “proprioception” allowing the wearer to more precisely identify “where an injury is affecting [the body].”
Dr. Kase designed the tape for two reasons: 1) to alleviate pain due to injury and; 2) to facilitate healing for patients during the time in between appointments.
How It Works (Or Does It?)
Limited research has been done on the effectiveness of Kinesio taping and it should be noted that research studies thus far have shown no causative link between this method of taping and improved injury rehabilitation outcomes. In fact, many experts argue that the positive effects of taping are due to the placebo effect: the belief that something works because the user believes it does. Given the high preponderance of sports competitors who admit to being superstitious, a plausible argument can be made that much of the “Kinesio effect” can be traced to individual confidence in the therapy’s effectiveness.
According to findings reported in a 2016 article by Kevin Loria for Business Insider, research studies have found that taping is an ineffective treatment option for chronic musculoskeletal problems as these patients have shown no benefits from the practice. However, serious competitors may find taping useful based on research recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Loria notes the results showed that taping did enhance pain relief when compared “to minimal intervention for pain relief.” Perhaps more important are additional studies cited which demonstrate that taping may give an athlete a slight edge in “range of motion.” As Loria observes, it is easy to see why taping has become popular among high-performance athletes participating in competitions that often come down to endurance and speeds measured in “fractions of a second.”
Precisely how the tape effects its purported benefits is also up for debate. Phillips states it has been hypothesized that the elastic core of kinesiology tape “lift[s] the skin away from the structures underneath it, and it is suggested that this improves blood and lymphatic flow.” This improved flow of elements necessary for healing to the injury site are thought to account for speedier recovery times and thus, less time in pain.
Consumer Beware
Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery (and a quick way to make a buck), other companies have come out with their own brands of kinesiology tapes and some manufacturers have been sued for making unsubstantiated claims of additional health benefits including promising faster recovery times and improved fitness. Assertions that the research to date cannot back up.
However, lack of research doesn’t necessarily mean you should not try taping to see if it works for you. As writer Matt Phillips aptly noted, many traditional methods of injury treatment lack qualitative and extensive research: so-called common-sense therapies including the application of heat and ice, massage and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Motrin and Advil also lack substantial research into their effectiveness. Improved results observed in the clinical setting are used to support the use of these methods. The majority of physical therapists have observed improvement among some patients who use taping as part of a comprehensive treatment and recovery plan. While opponents of taping decry the practice as unnecessary and unproductive, one thing the small amount of research available on taping agrees on is that patient responsiveness to taping depends on the individual.
Dangers of Reliance on Kinesio Tape
Like any other form of treatment, you can become overly reliant on kinesiology tape if you overuse it. It is suggested that it be used for the period of injury and recovery, not on an on-going basis. As Phillips asserts, if much of the positive effects of kinesiology taping can be traced to the brain’s interpretation of pain and ability, constant use of tape can leave an athlete believing they need the tape in order to perform at optimum levels. It is also important not to self-treat serious injuries. Pain is the body’s way of telling you something is wrong and serious injuries that cause high levels of pain or remain for an extended period of time should be seen and diagnosed properly by a qualified physician.
Conclusion
Although the exact mechanism of how, why and even if kinesiology tape works is still debated, studies consistently show that response to this treatment technique varies. So, if you have a minor injury, taping is one element of therapy you may want to try to see if it works for you. Placebo or no, relief from pain and shorter recovery times are good things. Beware of over-hyped claims of what the tape can do for you and avoid overuse of any form of treatment.
References
(2018). What is KT Tape?
Loria, K. (29 July, 2016). Here’s Why Olympic Athletes Wear Colorful Tape on Their Bodies.
Phillips, M. (2018). What You Need to Know About Kinesiology Tape for Runners.
Train Magazine. (2 August, 2018). How, When and Why to Use Athletic Tape.
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