-- Kevin, Hillsboro
Kinesio tape is simply one form of elastic tape commonly used by physical therapists to help people resolve a variety of injuries by applying it in a specific manner.
Developed in the 1970s, advocates of taping claim that it "supports injured muscles by improving joint mechanics while improving fluid flow," although this hasn't been scientifically proven (Physician and Sportsmedicine 2006). The popularity of taping got a boost when an enormous supply of tape was donated to 58 countries for use by athletes at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Since then, interest has grown considerably, with consumers and health care providers wondering if taping could help remedy chronic muscle/joint problems.
For any medical treatment to be considered safe and effective, it must be repeatedly tested in well-designed studies and reviewed by industry peers. And even when reliable research results are available, treatments can really never be considered to "work," because this implies it yields positive benefits for all people, regardless of inherent variables (gender, race, obesity, lifestyle, hormones).
There are just too many human variables (both known and unknown) to be able to say that any single treatment is truly "the" remedy.
Even if I believed that taping was effective in helping patients resolve knee/shoulder problems, it would be irresponsible to claim that it works because of two main reasons: A) there is conflicting research on its efficacy and B) it's impossible to know to what extent, if any, the tape helped independent of anything else (exercise, hormones, diet, stress reduction).
Of course, this doesn't mean taping can't be helpful. Some people swear it works, which is great. But licensed health care providers should be careful when they express support for treatments to retain credibility.
Despite being used since the 1970s, research on taping is limited and controversial. Critical reviews suggest that taping in healthy people with knee and shoulder pain is no better than a placebo (Manual Therapy 2012), while others show it can help improve motor control in those with back pain (European Journal of Physician and Rehabilitation Medicine 2011). Taping may also reduce chronic ankle sprains, but it's unclear which athletes benefit most (International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy 2012).
Further complicating the issue is the variation in how physical therapists apply tape to patients, as those with more experience achieve more consistently positive outcomes (Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine 2012).
I've heard some patients say that taping helps reduce pain during exercise, although the opposite is also true. The problem is that more research is needed to make any credible recommendation at this time.
However, it's probably safe to say the success of your physical therapy will depend far more on your ability to consistently perform the right exercises in the right way using the right intensity. The fact is, taping is only a tiny part of the rehabilitation puzzle. It can't strengthen your muscles for you.
Dr. Colin Hoobler presents "Overcoming Back Pain," 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 13 at c.h. Beaverton. For details, visit chpt.org and click "Next Event."