Can kinesio tapes save you from pain, injury and edema?

What are kinesio tapes?

Kinesio tape, kinesiological tape (kinesio - movement, tape - tape) is a tape made of soft cotton fiber with acrylic medical glue applied in a wave-like manner to the fabric.

Kinesio tapes were invented by S. Williams, C. Whatman, P. A. Hume, K. Sheerin. Kinesio taping in treatment and prevention of sports injuries: a meta-analysis of the evidence for its effectiveness / Sports medicine Japanese chiropractor Kenzo Kase back in the 70s of the last century. But the color stripes won world fame after the 2008 Olympics, where elastic teips were presented to top athletes from 58 countries.

In early 2021, scientists interviewed S. W. Cheatham, R. T. Baker, T. E. Abdenour. Kinesiology Tape: A Descriptive Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the United States / International journal of sports physical therapy over a thousand physical therapists and sports physicians in the United States. It turned out that 74% of specialists prescribe kinesio tapes for treatment after injuries, 67% use them to relieve pain and 60% to improve the neuromuscular connection of patients.

How do kinesio tapes work?

They are attached in a special way. First, one edge is glued, then the remnants of the backing are removed, the kinesio tape is stretched and applied to the skin. It gathers in small folds and rises.

Considered S. W. Cheatham, R. T. Baker, T. E. Abdenour. Kinesiology Tape: A Descriptive Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the United States / International journal of sports physical therapy, which creates a decompression effect thanks to the folds. That is, the tissues rise, the pressure on pain receptors and blood vessels decreases, and blood circulation and lymph drainage improve.

It is also believed that the pressure and stretching that the tape provides stimulates receptors in the skin. This helps to better feel the injured limb, increase the range of motion and prevent new damage.

However, despite its popularity with physiotherapists and athletes, the effectiveness of kinesio tapes is questionable.

Do kinesio tapes help treat sports injuries?

There is no convincing evidence P. Parreiraa, L. Costa, L. C. Junior. Current evidence does not support the use of Kinesio Taping in clinical practice: a systematic review / Journal of Physiotherapy that S. Williams, C. Whatman, P. A. Hume, K. Sheerin help kinesio tapes. Kinesio taping in treatment and prevention of sports injuries: a meta-analysis of the evidence for its effectiveness / Sports medicine in the treatment of most sports injuries 1. G. S. Nunes, V. Z. Vargas, B. Wageck. Kinesio Taping does not decrease swelling in acute, lateral ankle sprain of athletes: a randomized trial / Journal of physiotherapy

2. A. K. A. Oliveira, D. T. Borges, C. A. A. Lins. Immediate effects of Kinesio Taping (®) on neuromuscular performance of quadriceps and balance in individuals submitted to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A randomized clinical trial / Journal of science and medicine in sport

and prevent them in the future.

Also elastic bands do not affect proprioception A. L. Ager, D. Borms, M. Bernaert. Can a Conservative Rehabilitation Strategy Improve Shoulder Proprioception? A Systematic Review / Journal of sport rehabilitation, by R. Csapo, L. M. Alegre. Effects of Kinesio (®) taping on skeletal muscle strength-A meta-analysis of current evidence / Journal of science and medicine in sport muscle and athletic performance J. C. Reneker, L. Latham, R. McGlawn, M. R. Reneker. Effectiveness of kinesiology tape on sports performance abilities in athletes: A systematic review / Physical therapy in sport.

However, some meta-analyzes 1. I. Saracoglu, Y. Emuk, F. Taspinar. Does taping in addition to physiotherapy improve the outcomes in subacromial impingement syndrome? A systematic review / Physiotherapy theory and practice

2. S. Ghozy, N. M. Dung, M. E. Morra. Efficacy of kinesio taping in treatment of shoulder pain and disability: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials / Physiotherapy

recognize the benefits of taping to reduce shoulder pain, but only in combination with traditional physical therapy. It doesn't matter if the tapes are glued with or without stretching (placebo taping) - the effect does not change D. Celik, S. K. Argut, O. Coban, I. Eren. The clinical efficacy of kinesio taping in shoulder disorders: a systematic review and meta analysis / Clinical rehabilitation.

The same goes for the knee joints. In one meta-analysis, C. A. Logan, A. R. Bhashyam, A. J. Tisosky. Systematic Review of the Effect of Taping Techniques on Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Sports health found that any taping paired with exercise gives good results in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome ("runner's knee"), and does not work without them.

Most scientific works recognize A. M. Montalvo, E. L. Cara, G. D. Myer. Effect of kinesiology taping on pain in individuals with musculoskeletal injuries: systematic review and meta-analysis / The Physician and sports medicine that elastic tapes help a little E. C. W. Lim, M. G. X. Tay. Kinesio taping in musculoskeletal pain and disability that lasts for more than 4 weeks: is it time to peel off the tape and throw it out with the sweat? A systematic review with meta-analysis focused on pain and also methods of tape application / British journal of sports medicine is better than complete absence of intervention, effective only together 1. C. A. Logan, A. R. Bhashyam, A. J. Tisosky. Systematic Review of the Effect of Taping Techniques on Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Sports health

2. I. Saracoglu, Y. Emuk, F. Taspinar. Does taping in addition to physiotherapy improve the outcomes in subacromial impingement syndrome? A systematic review / Physiotherapy theory and practice with other therapies and is not superior to D. Celik, S. K. Argut, O. Coban, I. Eren. The clinical efficacy of kinesio taping in shoulder disorders: a systematic review and meta analysis / Clinical rehabilitation is traditional treatment such as medication or exercise.

Thus, if your doctor advises supplementing your therapy with kinesio tapes, you may well try them and benefit from them. But it makes no sense to apply them separately in the hope of recovery.

Do kinesio tapes help with back pain?

Several 1. M. L. Penalver-Barrios, J. F. Lison, J. Ballester-Salvador. A novel (targeted) kinesio taping application on chronic low back pain: Randomized clinical trial / PLoS One

2. P. Parreiraa, L. Costaa, R. Takahashi. Kinesio Taping to generate skin convolutions is not better than sham taping for people with chronic non-speci ﬁ c low back pain: a randomized trial / Journal of Physiotherapy studies have shown that kinesio tapes help with lower back pain. In this case, it does not matter whether they are glued with stretching so that the skin goes in waves, or just like that. The effect lasts for 4 weeks, after which the discomfort returns A. Kalron, S. Bar-Sela. A systematic review of the effectiveness of Kinesio Taping-fact or fashion? / European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine.

But again, the scientific evidence is mixed. In some meta-analyzes 1. Y. Sheng, Z. Duan, Q. Qu, W. Chen, Bo Yu. Kinesio taping in treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis / Journal of rehabilitation medicine

2. Z. A. Cupler, M. Alrwaily, E. Polakowski. Taping for conditions of the musculoskeletal system: an evidence map review / Chiropractic and manual therapies elastic tapes are recognized as a good remedy for lower back pain, in others 1. M. Added, L. Costa, D. Freitas. Kinesio Taping Does Not Provide Additional Benefits in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain Who Receive Exercise and Manual Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial / The Journal of orthopedic and sports physical therapy

2. C. Vanti, L. Bertozzi, I. Gardenghi. Effect of taping on spinal pain and disability: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials / Physical therapy is called ineffective.

If you decide to relieve lower back pain with kinesio tapes, you can apply them in any way: parallel to the spine or across.

Apparently, in the short term, this is not particularly important, and in the long term, they do not work. The video below shows one of the use cases for ribbons.

But remember, it's much better to see your doctor to get the right therapy with exercise and other scientifically proven methods.

Do kinesio tapes help with edema?

Two 1. H. Tsai, H. Hung, J. Yang. Could Kinesio tape replace the bandage in decongestive lymphatic therapy for breast-cancer-related lymphedema? A pilot study / Supportive care in cancer

2. S. A Tantawy, W. K. Abdelbasset, G. Nambi. Comparative Study Between the Effects of Kinesio Taping and Pressure Garment on Secondary Upper Extremity Lymphedema and Quality of Life Following Mastectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial / Integrative cancer therapies studies have confirmed that kinesio tapes help fight lymphostasis in breast cancer. In both experiments, the bands provided the same benefits as the bandages, but were much more comfortable.

In another D. Białoszewski, W. Woźniak, S. Zarek. Clinical efficacy of kinesiology taping in reducing edema of the lower limbs in patients treated with the ilizarov method-preliminary report / Ortopedia, traumatologia, rehabilitacja In addition to lymphatic drainage, kinesio taping, in addition to lymphatic drainage, quickly relieved leg edema in patients on extraction using the Ilizarov apparatus.

In a recent meta-analysis J. Hörmann, W. Vach, M. Jakob. Kinesiotaping for postoperative oedema - what is the evidence? A systematic review / BMC sports science, medicine and rehabilitation also found that kinesio tape can help reduce postoperative swelling, relieve pain, and improve quality of life.

However, the scientists noted that, despite the good prospects, the topic requires more qualitative research with a control group. Therefore, it is too early to declare the effectiveness of kinesio tapes against edema and lymph circulation disorders.

If you want to try it now, cut the tape into several strips, as in the video below, so it is more likely that it will increase microcirculation and help reduce swelling.

And again, you shouldn't take kinesio tapes as an independent therapy. In the studies cited above, they were used as an adjunct rather than a primary treatment.

Should you buy kinesio tapes?

Apparently, elastic bands can only be useful for relieving lower back pain, as well as instead of compression hosiery for swelling. But no one guarantees that it will help. Even the manufacturers themselves.

If you want to increase your chances of recovering from an injury, see your doctor, and use kinesio tapes only as a complementary therapy, not as a primary therapy.

This material was first published in March 2018. In August 2021, we updated the text.