Kinesiology tape is the generic, non-branded time period for elastic tape manufactured from tightly woven elasticated cotton and nylon fibres. It’s worn on pores and skin in an effort to cut back ache, help restoration, and enhance motion.
Kinesiology tape has loved a meteoric rise lately. Lots of the world’s high athletes have been seen carrying it, and it has grow to be commonplace in most bodily remedy and chiropractic clinics.
Kinesio tape in motion on the 2014 CrossFit Video games
Because of this, just a few myths about taping have emerged. I’m going to place the document straight on the most typical ones. However earlier than I do, let me clarify my bias – I’m a bodily therapist and a tape fan. In reality, I just like the stuff a lot I purchased shares in a tape firm (RockTape) and now head up their skilled schooling program within the UK and Europe.
My expertise of sticking tape on 1000’s of sufferers, working a whole lot of taping workshops for well being professionals, and taping myself each time I damage, is that tape works. It does cool and shocking stuff to cut back ache and enhance motion. However I additionally hear a complete load of nonsense, misinformation, and misconceptions about kinesiology tape and what it does.
Listed below are 4 most commons myths I hear, together with reasoning on the contrary.
There Is No Proof for Kinesiology Taping
This delusion comes from members of the general public and well being skilled alike. I’m not going attempt to inform you there’s an avalanche of high-quality proof that kinds an irrefutable case. That isn’t true of something I do as a therapist, besides maybe suggesting folks rise up and transfer round a bit extra.
“My expertise of sticking tape on 1000’s of sufferers, working a whole lot of taping workshops for well being professionals, and taping myself each time I damage, is that tape works.”
However there’s a surprisingly giant physique of educational work learning tape. Though the analysis usually isn’t as prime quality because it could be and the outcomes are typically conflicting, the general theme is encouraging and optimistic. The newest systematic overview right here discovered tape to be efficient in lowering signs of ache that lasts for greater than 4 weeks when used mixed with train.
A number of randomly managed trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of tape to cut back ache and enhance perform in a wide range of circumstances. This examine confirmed that tape and train are as efficient as an injection and train in managing sufferers with sub-acromial impingement of the shoulder. Additionally for impinged shoulders, this paper exhibits tape mixed with train ends in superior outcomes in ache, motion, and performance than placebo taping and train.
There are heaps extra research. Plug “kinesio tape” or “kinesiology tape” into Pubmed or Google Scholar and have a look. You could be stunned. Certain, it’s not all one-way site visitors. There are research resembling this one suggesting tape has little or no impact. Nevertheless, like a lot of the research with unfavorable findings, they’re testing tape on unhurt, unfatigued, and uncompromised topics, so it’s no nice shock tape doesn’t do a lot in these circumstances.
So, extra prime quality proof is required. However the assertion “there is no such thing as a proof for taping” is scientifically refutable. Let’s all please cease saying it.
Kinesiology Tape Is Only a Placebo
It simply ain’t. A component of the way it works could also be right down to placebo results, identical to any therapy. However a number of research like this and this have all in contrast a therapeutic kinesiology tape software with a placebo tape (both a unique tape like micropore or a kinesiology tape placed on with no stretch). All these research exhibit the results of kinesiology tape can’t be replicated by placebo taping.
“A component of the way it works could also be right down to placebo results, identical to any therapy.”
Nevertheless, there are all the time flies within the ointment, like this examine that discovered the placebo taping they used improved leap top simply as a lot because the “therapeutic” taping. Maybe that is only a good reminder that we’ve a lot to study how tape works, and the way we will finest use it alter variables like ache, mobility, and endurance.
The Shade Makes a Distinction
It doesn’t, however then it additionally form of does. The parable I hear most is that pink tape will heat stuff up and blue tape will cool issues down. This goes again to the historical past of tape being developed in Asia and selecting up affect from shade remedy. The idea is lighter colours mirror extra warmth whereas darkish colours soak up extra, thus altering tissue temperature beneath the tape.
There are a few issues with that. Any change in temperature as a consequence of this mechanism could be infinitesimally small. And thru homeostasis, the physique is continually adjusting blood stream to maintain the correct temperature of our tissue no matter environmental circumstances. So, I respectfully recommend if you wish to cool one thing down, attempt an ice pack. If you wish to heat one thing up, attempt a warmth pad or good scorching tub. However don’t sweat it over tape shade.
It Is Tough to Apply and You Want Plenty of Coaching
It isn’t and also you don’t. It doesn’t take years of coaching or detailed data of anatomy to work out a secure and efficient taping. There’s a little bit of knack to dealing with the tape and getting it securely caught and wrinkle free, so that you may need to follow a few instances earlier than you stick it for actual. There are myriad You Tube movies (discover mine right here) that present you easy methods to tape for most typical accidents. A couple of suggestions:
- Hold it easy. Much less is extra.
- Stretch the tissue not the tape.
- Rub the tape throughout to make sure bond between pores and skin and tape.
When you have an issue extra advanced than a little bit of ache, tightness, or stiffness, seeing therapist with taping expertise might be money and time nicely spent.
“It’s not magic and it’s not a substitute for rehab and wise damage administration. If you happen to’ve received a niggle, seize a roll, and provides it a go.”
Conclusion
Kinesiology tape is a secure, efficient, low-risk solution to give your physique a nudge in the fitting course towards much less ache and higher perform. It’s not magic and it’s not a substitute for rehab and wise damage administration. However if you happen to’ve received a hassle spot, seize a roll, and provides it a go.
You possibly can learn all of the articles and analysis papers you want, however one of the best ways to know what these things does is to really feel it do its factor.
Intrigued? Check out these:
- Kinesio Tape: What Is It and What’s the Hype?
- Kinesio Taping: Does it Work?
- Kinesio Taping for Efficiency: How It Actually Works
- New on Breaking Muscle Right this moment
References:
1. Lim, ECW et al., “Kinesio taping in musculoskeletal ache and incapacity that lasts for greater than 4?weeks: is it time to peel off the tape and throw it out with the sweat? A scientific overview with meta-analysis targeted on ache and in addition strategies of tape software” Br J Sports activities Med doi:10.1136/bjsports-2014-094151
2. Suba??, V. et al., “Comparability of efficacy of kinesiological taping and subacromial injection remedy in subacromial impingement syndrome” Scientific Rheumatology November 2014
3. Poon, KY et al., “Kinesiology tape doesn’t facilitate muscle efficiency: A misleading managed trial.” Guide Remedy Journal. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2014.07.013
4. Anandkumar, S. et al., “Efficacy of kinesio taping on isokinetic quadriceps torque in knee osteoarthritis: a double blinded randomized managed examine.” Physiother Principle Pract. 2014 Aug;30(6):375-83. doi: 10.3109/09593985.2014.896963. Epub 2014 Mar 11.
5. Tamburella, F., et al., “Somatosensory inputs by software of KinesioTaping: results on spasticity, stability, and gait in power spinal twine damage.” Physiother Principle Pract. 2014 Aug;30(6):375-83. doi: 10.3109/09593985.2014.896963. Epub 2014 Mar 11.
6. Mostert-Wentzel, Ok., et al., “Impact of kinesio taping on explosive muscle energy of gluteus maximus of male athletes.” South African Sports activities Drugs Affiliation 09/2012; 24:75-80. DOI: 10.7196/sajsm.261
Picture 1 courtesy of CrossFit, Inc.
Picture 2 courtesy of Rocktape UK.
Picture 3 courtesy of Shutterstock.
