How does kt tape help

KT had some substantial effects on muscle activity, but it was unclear whether these changes were beneficial or harmful. In conclusion, there was little quality evidence to support the use of KT over other types of elastic taping in the management or prevention of sports injuries. KT may have a small beneficial role in improving strength, range of motion in certain injured cohorts and force sense error compared with other tapes, but further studies are needed to confirm these findings".

So what can we take from all of this evidence? Well, the first would be that some people do benefit from the use of KT tape however, the mechanism isn't known. Likely any improvements are in the form of altering sensory input to the skin, thereby impacting proprioception awareness of the position and movement of your body , or placebo effect. If you ask me it is kind of a hit or miss with elastic taping. I think if you are not relying on KT but using it as an adjunct to decrease pain, provide sensory feedback then go ahead.

I mean, there is virtually zero risk, aside from skin irritation from the adhesive. It is definitely not a cure-all by any means though. If you are seeing a clinician or trainer and they are selling it as a cure-all it might be a red flag. In fact, there was a class action lawsuit against the company for making such outlandish claims that weren't backed by research.

In conclusion. Oksana Masters. Brandon Lyons. Kelley O'Hara. Heimana Reynolds. Customer Service. US Dealer. International Sales. Despite its flexibility, Kinesio tape is supposed to stabilize muscles and give the athlete awareness of muscle engagement, known as proprioception. In addition, some claim that it slightly lifts the skin away from the muscle, which is supposed to help reduce swelling and promote blood flow to the muscle.

Kinesio tape manufacturers and health professionals offer taping suggestions to prevent or treat injuries such as the following:. However, research has failed to back these claims—or at least most of them. In 2 systematic reviews that looked at a combined total of 18 studies on the effectiveness of Kinesio tape, 6 to 7 studies indicated there may be some moderate benefits for immediate musculoskeletal pain by using kinesio tape.

None of the studies showed any significant benefits regarding long-term pain alleviation, or improved strength or range of motion. The authors of both reviews concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support the use of kinesio tape to prevent or treat injuries, or to improve strength or range of motion.

Today, there are more than 50 brands of kinesiology tape on the market, but the original product, Kinesio tape or Kinesio Tex Tape, was developed in the late s by Dr. Enthusiasts report success achieving these aims, but so far, there needs to be more research to say with certainty what taping can and cannot do. Kase created Kinesio tape with a proprietary blend of cotton and nylon. When the tape is applied to your body, it recoils slightly, gently lifting your skin.

It is believed that this helps to create a microscopic space between your skin and the tissues underneath it. One small study with 32 participants showed that when kinesiology tape was applied over the knee, it increased the space in the knee joint.

Lyman KJ, et al. Investigating the effectiveness of kinesio taping space correction method in healthy adults on patellofemoral joint and subcutaneous space. Effects of 3 different elastic therapeutic taping methods on the subacromial joint space.

Some physical therapists think the tape changes the information your sensory nervous system is sending about pain and compression in your body. Megann Schooley , board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy and certified strength and conditioning specialist, explains it this way:. Kinesiology taping creates a lift that unloads the underlying tissues.

Decompressing those tissues can change the signals going to the brain. Trigger points are a good example. Physical therapists have used kinesiology tape to lift the skin over these tense, knotted muscles. When the area is decompressed, pain receptors send a new signal to the brain, and tension in the trigger point decreases. A study showed that trigger point pain was reduced and flexibility increased for people when kinesiology tape and manual pressure were used together.

Chao YW, et al. Kinesio taping and manual pressure release: Short-term effects in subjects with myofasical trigger point.

A study showed that kinesiology taping can improve blood flow in the skin. Craighead DH, et al. Kinesiology tape modestly increases skin blood flow regardless of tape application technique. Lymphatic fluid is mostly water, but it also contains proteins, bacteria, and other chemicals. The lymphatic system is the way your body regulates swelling and fluid buildup.

The theory is that when kinesiology tape is applied, it creates extra subcutaneous space, which changes the pressure gradient in the area underneath your skin.