Thoughts on kinesio tape?

Reloaded · 4th March 2011, 06:24 PM

Hi JREFers,

I just wanted to know your thoughts on Kinesio Tape. Seems like current research is pointing that it has no major health benefits but it does have some good exposure through various athletes that claim it beneficial to their recovery and performance.

I'm a Massage Therapist and was thinking about adding it to my practice in the goal of postural balancing post-massage in order to length the effects of a treatment... thoughts on that?

volcano · 4th March 2011, 06:32 PM

I had a physical therapist apply it to my peroneal tendon, which suffers from chronic tendinitis. Most of his work seemed fairly evidence-based but his explanation of Kinesio Tape seemed very woo-rich-- stuff about "retraining," which seems unlikely for such weak tape (for those unfamiliar with it, it's less stiff than regular medical tape).

I just ignored the tape application at the time (it was only one of 4-5 modalities that he tried during that session), but was peeved a few weeks later when I got a bill-- my insurance company doesn't cover this "treatment," so the application of that tape cost me approximately $40.

The only part of his explanation that seemed remotely plausible was that it pulls slightly on the region and thus allows slightly more blood flow to the tendon, in the way that those nasal strips can slightly increase airflow through the nose.

Emerson Street · 4th March 2011, 06:41 PM

There is a mention of the stuff here:

'Most of the evidence for the claims about this magic tape is in the form of anecdotes. I was able to find one randomized, double-blind control study involving 42 college students with shoulder problems. The results were less than overwhelming.'

Emet · 4th March 2011, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Reloaded

Hi JREFers,

I just wanted to know your thoughts on Kinesio Tape. Seems like current research is pointing that it has no major health benefits but it does have some good exposure through various athletes that claim it beneficial to their recovery and performance.

I'm a Massage Therapist and was thinking about adding it to my practice in the goal of postural balancing post-massage in order to length the effects of a treatment... thoughts on that?

What exactly are you treating through massage therapy?

Unlike a Bull · 4th March 2011, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Reloaded

Hi JREFers,

I just wanted to know your thoughts on Kinesio Tape. Seems like current research is pointing that it has no major health benefits but it does have some good exposure through various athletes that claim it beneficial to their recovery and performance.

I'm a Massage Therapist and was thinking about adding it to my practice in the goal of postural balancing post-massage in order to length the effects of a treatment... thoughts on that?

If current research is pointing to it having no major health effects, then I would have to say it has no major health effects, regardless of what various athletes have to say about it.

JoeyDonuts · 4th March 2011, 08:00 PM

I don't think there's anything to it, as opposed to proven treatment modalities like RICE.

But RICE doesn't do you any good if you want to keep running on an inflamed ITB, for example. I think people are looking for something they can slap on a joint and think 'there! I've done something.'

I see a LOT of KT on my fellow trail/road runners out there. I also see a lot of Power Balance bracelets, too - worn by people who have been running for a long time and routinely do Ultra Marathons. (Those people are freaking loony by definition. I have no desire to even complete a marathon, let alone 100 road miles.)

It's pretty obvious that KT has gotten some traction amongst the 'veterans' in the running groups, though no one I've met can give me a succinct explanation of what the hell it's actually supposed to do.

I've often wondered the same thing about 'myofascial release' and the 'trigger points' it claims, but I haven't had ITB trouble since I started using a foam roller. Different beast, I know, but I often wonder if I'm guilty of the same kind of wishful thinking I see in others with KT and Powerbalance Bracelets. I really haven't seen a great deal of good literature on myofascial release, though I know a lot of sports-med type folks think there's something to it. Then again, they also say a lot of things...

Reloaded · 4th March 2011, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by Emet

What exactly are you treating through massage therapy?

Soft tissue dysfunction in short. Usually reducing muscle spasms/hypertonicity and eliminate/reduce trigger points.

I do direct facial work as well in chronic cases where connective tissue is causing the problem.

I thought the tape might be beneficial for treating a common posture that brings many people in for massage... anterior head carriage with pectoralis group shortening and internal rotation of the arm (classic student/computer user posture). It could possibly be used to support the neck in a more neutral position and activate the rhomboids/external rotators of the arm to counter-act effects of the other muscles.

volcano · 4th March 2011, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by Reloaded

Soft tissue dysfunction in short. Usually reducing muscle spasms/hypertonicity and eliminate/reduce trigger points.

I do direct facial work as well in chronic cases where connective tissue is causing the problem.

I thought the tape might be beneficial for treating a common posture that brings many people in for massage... anterior head carriage with pectoralis group shortening and internal rotation of the arm (classic student/computer user posture). It could possibly be used to support the neck in a more neutral position and activate the rhomboids/external rotators of the arm to counter-act effects of the other muscles.

As someone 1.) with exactly the posture you describe and 2.) who wore a back brace for three years as an adolescent to (unsuccessfully) correct scoliosis and kyphosis, I don't think kineso tape is strong enough to support anything. If anything, it could maybe provide some feedback-- when you start to involuntarily slouch, the tape would pull and remind you to correct your posture. For that purpose, however, any tape would do.

volcano · 4th March 2011, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by JoeyDonuts

I really haven't seen a great deal of good literature on myofascial release, though I know a lot of sports-med type folks think there's something to it. Then again, they also say a lot of things...

I'm also curious about this. I have so-called "trigger points" that refer pain (for example, push on a certain spot in my right trapezius and I feel a stabbing sensation in my elbow and ear), but is massaging these areas beneficial? Or is this just some biomechanic quirk?

Reloaded · 4th March 2011, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by volcano

As someone 1.) with exactly the posture you describe and 2.) who wore a back brace for three years as an adolescent to (unsuccessfully) correct scoliosis and kyphosis, I don't think kineso tape is strong enough to support anything. If anything, it could maybe provide some feedback-- when you start to involuntarily slouch, the tape would pull and remind you to correct your posture. For that purpose, however, any tape would do.

That's what I was thinking too... there is a lot of give in the cotton that makes up the tape. Plus if it was applied too tightly it would cause more irritation then good.

Reloaded · 4th March 2011, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by volcano

I'm also curious about this. I have so-called "trigger points" that refer pain (for example, push on a certain spot in my right trapezius and I feel a stabbing sensation in my elbow and ear), but is massaging these areas beneficial? Or is this just some biomechanic quirk?

Lots of study still needs to be done in order to determine why pain is referred at a distance away from any know neurological pattern.

Massage can help to deactivate active trigger points but it's proper identification of the underlying issues that will prevent them from returning (postural imbalances, excess muscle tone, repetitive use, etc).

casebro · 5th March 2011, 06:32 AM

I think a lot of the benefit from braces/support/tape is merely an extra layer of warmth, plus maybe a bit of 'passive massage'. Minor help. Plus maybe a reminder to not overwork things- more significant.

JoeyDonuts · 5th March 2011, 09:30 AM

What worked better for me than any kind of tape or brace was...wait for it...shortening my running stride and getting the right kind of shoes for pronators.

Reloaded · 7th March 2011, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by casebro

I think a lot of the benefit from braces/support/tape is merely an extra layer of warmth, plus maybe a bit of 'passive massage'. Minor help. Plus maybe a reminder to not overwork things- more significant.

I've personally used a brace for Achilles tendinitis I was developing and it did help elevate the discomfort and irritation that was causing it. I had to get further work to correct it (chiro, massage and insoles) but it helped me continue my activity.

LarianLeQuella · 8th March 2011, 05:44 AM

Originally Posted by Emerson Street

There is a mention of the stuff here:

'Most of the evidence for the claims about this magic tape is in the form of anecdotes. I was able to find one randomized, double-blind control study involving 42 college students with shoulder problems. The results were less than overwhelming.'

THIS!

It's bure and utter twaddle. Save your money and the money of your clients. If anything, you could gain business for your fair dealings on BS snakeoil like that.

Reloaded · 9th March 2011, 04:02 PM

To be fair this is pretty new stuff. A lot of the studies do point to some immediate benefits but the long term stuff is more inconclusive then disproved. I find the lymph drainage a bit of a stretch but I can see how the structural advantages could work.

The tape is pretty cheap, I might pick up a few rolls and experiment with it. The courses are (like anything medical related education) expensive, and I'm very picky about what I take these days.

4th March 2011, 06:24 PM	#1
Reloaded New Blood Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 16	Thoughts on kinesio tape? Hi JREFers, I just wanted to know your thoughts on Kinesio Tape. Seems like current research is pointing that it has no major health benefits but it does have some good exposure through various athletes that claim it beneficial to their recovery and performance. I'm a Massage Therapist and was thinking about adding it to my practice in the goal of postural balancing post-massage in order to length the effects of a treatment... thoughts on that?
Reloaded New Blood Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 16

4th March 2011, 06:32 PM	#2
volcano Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 337	I had a physical therapist apply it to my peroneal tendon, which suffers from chronic tendinitis. Most of his work seemed fairly evidence-based but his explanation of Kinesio Tape seemed very woo-rich-- stuff about "retraining," which seems unlikely for such weak tape (for those unfamiliar with it, it's less stiff than regular medical tape). I just ignored the tape application at the time (it was only one of 4-5 modalities that he tried during that session), but was peeved a few weeks later when I got a bill-- my insurance company doesn't cover this "treatment," so the application of that tape cost me approximately $40. The only part of his explanation that seemed remotely plausible was that it pulls slightly on the region and thus allows slightly more blood flow to the tendon, in the way that those nasal strips can slightly increase airflow through the nose.
volcano Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 337

4th March 2011, 06:41 PM	#3
Emerson Street Thinker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The land of Müller Posts: 164	There is a mention of the stuff here: 'Most of the evidence for the claims about this magic tape is in the form of anecdotes. I was able to find one randomized, double-blind control study involving 42 college students with shoulder problems. The results were less than overwhelming.'
	__________________ Let´s be honest about it. Words can´t hurt You ~ Frank Zappa

4th March 2011, 06:48 PM	#4
Emet Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 3,395	Originally Posted by Reloaded Hi JREFers, I just wanted to know your thoughts on Kinesio Tape. Seems like current research is pointing that it has no major health benefits but it does have some good exposure through various athletes that claim it beneficial to their recovery and performance. I'm a Massage Therapist and was thinking about adding it to my practice in the goal of postural balancing post-massage in order to length the effects of a treatment... thoughts on that? What exactly are you treating through massage therapy?
Emet Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 3,395

4th March 2011, 07:33 PM	#5
Unlike a Bull Thinker Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 188	Originally Posted by Reloaded Hi JREFers, I just wanted to know your thoughts on Kinesio Tape. Seems like current research is pointing that it has no major health benefits but it does have some good exposure through various athletes that claim it beneficial to their recovery and performance. I'm a Massage Therapist and was thinking about adding it to my practice in the goal of postural balancing post-massage in order to length the effects of a treatment... thoughts on that? If current research is pointing to it having no major health effects, then I would have to say it has no major health effects, regardless of what various athletes have to say about it.
Unlike a Bull Thinker Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 188

4th March 2011, 08:00 PM	#6
JoeyDonuts Frequencies Not Known To Normals Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 10,636	I don't think there's anything to it, as opposed to proven treatment modalities like RICE. But RICE doesn't do you any good if you want to keep running on an inflamed ITB, for example. I think people are looking for something they can slap on a joint and think 'there! I've done something.' I see a LOT of KT on my fellow trail/road runners out there. I also see a lot of Power Balance bracelets, too - worn by people who have been running for a long time and routinely do Ultra Marathons. (Those people are freaking loony by definition. I have no desire to even complete a marathon, let alone 100 road miles.) It's pretty obvious that KT has gotten some traction amongst the 'veterans' in the running groups, though no one I've met can give me a succinct explanation of what the hell it's actually supposed to do. I've often wondered the same thing about 'myofascial release' and the 'trigger points' it claims, but I haven't had ITB trouble since I started using a foam roller. Different beast, I know, but I often wonder if I'm guilty of the same kind of wishful thinking I see in others with KT and Powerbalance Bracelets. I really haven't seen a great deal of good literature on myofascial release, though I know a lot of sports-med type folks think there's something to it. Then again, they also say a lot of things...
	__________________ _{EXIT STAGE LEFT! EXIT STAGE RIGHT! THERE IS NO PLACE TO RUN; ALL THE FUSES IN THE EXIT SIGNS HAVE BEEN BURNED OUT!}

4th March 2011, 08:33 PM	#7
Reloaded New Blood Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 16	Originally Posted by Emet What exactly are you treating through massage therapy? Soft tissue dysfunction in short. Usually reducing muscle spasms/hypertonicity and eliminate/reduce trigger points. I do direct facial work as well in chronic cases where connective tissue is causing the problem. I thought the tape might be beneficial for treating a common posture that brings many people in for massage... anterior head carriage with pectoralis group shortening and internal rotation of the arm (classic student/computer user posture). It could possibly be used to support the neck in a more neutral position and activate the rhomboids/external rotators of the arm to counter-act effects of the other muscles.
Reloaded New Blood Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 16

4th March 2011, 08:43 PM	#8
volcano Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 337	Originally Posted by Reloaded Soft tissue dysfunction in short. Usually reducing muscle spasms/hypertonicity and eliminate/reduce trigger points. I do direct facial work as well in chronic cases where connective tissue is causing the problem. I thought the tape might be beneficial for treating a common posture that brings many people in for massage... anterior head carriage with pectoralis group shortening and internal rotation of the arm (classic student/computer user posture). It could possibly be used to support the neck in a more neutral position and activate the rhomboids/external rotators of the arm to counter-act effects of the other muscles. As someone 1.) with exactly the posture you describe and 2.) who wore a back brace for three years as an adolescent to (unsuccessfully) correct scoliosis and kyphosis, I don't think kineso tape is strong enough to support anything. If anything, it could maybe provide some feedback-- when you start to involuntarily slouch, the tape would pull and remind you to correct your posture. For that purpose, however, any tape would do.
volcano Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 337

4th March 2011, 08:48 PM	#9
volcano Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 337	Originally Posted by JoeyDonuts I really haven't seen a great deal of good literature on myofascial release, though I know a lot of sports-med type folks think there's something to it. Then again, they also say a lot of things... I'm also curious about this. I have so-called "trigger points" that refer pain (for example, push on a certain spot in my right trapezius and I feel a stabbing sensation in my elbow and ear), but is massaging these areas beneficial? Or is this just some biomechanic quirk?
volcano Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 337

4th March 2011, 08:58 PM	#10
Reloaded New Blood Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 16	Originally Posted by volcano As someone 1.) with exactly the posture you describe and 2.) who wore a back brace for three years as an adolescent to (unsuccessfully) correct scoliosis and kyphosis, I don't think kineso tape is strong enough to support anything. If anything, it could maybe provide some feedback-- when you start to involuntarily slouch, the tape would pull and remind you to correct your posture. For that purpose, however, any tape would do. That's what I was thinking too... there is a lot of give in the cotton that makes up the tape. Plus if it was applied too tightly it would cause more irritation then good.
Reloaded New Blood Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 16

4th March 2011, 09:06 PM	#11
Reloaded New Blood Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 16	Originally Posted by volcano I'm also curious about this. I have so-called "trigger points" that refer pain (for example, push on a certain spot in my right trapezius and I feel a stabbing sensation in my elbow and ear), but is massaging these areas beneficial? Or is this just some biomechanic quirk? Lots of study still needs to be done in order to determine why pain is referred at a distance away from any know neurological pattern. Massage can help to deactivate active trigger points but it's proper identification of the underlying issues that will prevent them from returning (postural imbalances, excess muscle tone, repetitive use, etc).
Reloaded New Blood Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 16

5th March 2011, 06:32 AM	#12
casebro Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,879	I think a lot of the benefit from braces/support/tape is merely an extra layer of warmth, plus maybe a bit of 'passive massage'. Minor help. Plus maybe a reminder to not overwork things- more significant.
casebro Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,879	__________________ Please pardon me for having ideas, not facts. Some have called me cynical, but I don't believe them. It's not how many breaths you take. It's how many times you have been breathless that counts.

5th March 2011, 09:30 AM	#13
JoeyDonuts Frequencies Not Known To Normals Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 10,636	What worked better for me than any kind of tape or brace was...wait for it...shortening my running stride and getting the right kind of shoes for pronators.
	__________________ _{EXIT STAGE LEFT! EXIT STAGE RIGHT! THERE IS NO PLACE TO RUN; ALL THE FUSES IN THE EXIT SIGNS HAVE BEEN BURNED OUT!}

7th March 2011, 10:25 PM	#14
Reloaded New Blood Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 16	Originally Posted by casebro I think a lot of the benefit from braces/support/tape is merely an extra layer of warmth, plus maybe a bit of 'passive massage'. Minor help. Plus maybe a reminder to not overwork things- more significant. I've personally used a brace for Achilles tendinitis I was developing and it did help elevate the discomfort and irritation that was causing it. I had to get further work to correct it (chiro, massage and insoles) but it helped me continue my activity.
Reloaded New Blood Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 16

8th March 2011, 05:44 AM	#15
LarianLeQuella Elf Wino Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: 3rd Rock from the Sun Posts: 1,995	Originally Posted by Emerson Street There is a mention of the stuff here: 'Most of the evidence for the claims about this magic tape is in the form of anecdotes. I was able to find one randomized, double-blind control study involving 42 college students with shoulder problems. The results were less than overwhelming.' THIS! It's bure and utter twaddle. Save your money and the money of your clients. If anything, you could gain business for your fair dealings on BS snakeoil like that.
	__________________ My crappy blog that no one should be forced to read. Ever... But I like traffic and comments, so have at it if you please. Larian LeQuella Armyn ab Treanid

9th March 2011, 04:02 PM	#16
Reloaded New Blood Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 16	To be fair this is pretty new stuff. A lot of the studies do point to some immediate benefits but the long term stuff is more inconclusive then disproved. I find the lymph drainage a bit of a stretch but I can see how the structural advantages could work. The tape is pretty cheap, I might pick up a few rolls and experiment with it. The courses are (like anything medical related education) expensive, and I'm very picky about what I take these days.
Reloaded New Blood Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 16