Having talked about traditional taping in the last article, this article is about Kinesio tape or its copycat forms.  This type of tape came on to the scene in the 2012 Olympics. An explosion of colour that led to an explosion of its use.  This type of tape is very different to traditional tape. It tends to be more flexible and does not offer the same stability as traditional tape.   For that reason alone I will be honest and say it is something that I do not use, nor recommend people to use as stabilising is the one thing I feel tape can do.

It has a wave / corrugated type structure that is apparently the key to its success.  This wave like structure is supposed to produce a lifting effect on the skin. This is supposed to reduce pressure on the tissues below, improve blood flow and lymphatics and stimulate mechanoreceptors in the skin.  This its users claim improves sporting performance, can improve range of movement, helps muscles recover, function better and help with swelling, bruising and pain after injury

It is highly marketed, helped by the elite athletes that wear it and the vast array of designs colours and applications.  Some of the effects it claims however are very debateable.  KT Tape even lost a lawsuit after some let’s say dodgy advertising. 

Some research has shown it to have some of these effects. However these have often been in poorly designed studies, case studies or anecdotal reports.  For every study that ‘proves’ an effect, there is another that shows little or no effect.  Importantly in studies and reviews were KT tape is compared to a sham intervention, KT tape has shown no added benefit.   There is no skill in its application, it doesn’t matter how it is applied the results are the same.  Therefore, it is fair to say that any effect KT tape has is largely driven by placebo.  It’s a fad but a successful one at that.

That said as alluded to in the traditional taping section if it gives a player confidence then my view is the athlete should be free to consider using it. The side effect really is only of reliance.  Using K-tape certainly doesn’t have the same negative health consequences as having poor beliefs being driven by regular attendance at a manual therapists couch for example.  However, it should not be used as an alternative to good solid rehab program that addresses the issues at heart.  It it’s a case of ten minutes to do some exercise or ten minutes to apply tape.  Exercise wins hands down in the long run. 

I do not see the benefit of K-tape over traditional taping (in fact I think the reverse) and I debate many of the effects it purports to have.  However it is cheap and relatively low risk therefore I have no issue with people using it if they want to.  I however will not be going on a course to find out how K-tape is supposed to be applied as I am unsold on it.  If you want to try it, youtube it.