One of the questions that I often get as a clinician is what Kinesiology tape actually does. A component that I often describe to my patients is that the K tape, with its elasticity, essentially helps to lift the layers of the tissue which in turn help to promote improved edema control (decreased swelling), allow for improved blood flow, provide support to surrounding structures, and decrease pain levels. The pulling of the fascia or raise in the fascial layer promotes pain modulation to decrease the pressure on the nociceptors which is the name often used for pain receptors.
This kinesiology tape helps to allow for support to the area that is taped, however, it does not restrict the use of the extremity which still facilitates appropriate functional movement. In my experience, I have often utilized kinesiology tape for a variety of conditions whether soft tissue, neuromuscular, bony, or tendinous as the benefit of this tape has been immensely studied.
Research About Kinesiology Tape & the Arm and Hand
There has been extensive literature done of the utilization of KT tape on individuals with upper extremity (UE) osteoarthritis (OA). In this research, it was indicated that the utilization of Kinesiology tape with exercise resulted in significant improvements in the aspects of pain, ROM, hand strength, and UE functional use [1].
It is important to note that exercise was completed in addition to kinesiology tape which is likely the cause for increased ROM and hand strength as the mechanisms behind kinesiology tape generally do not directly impact these areas. Despite this, improvements may be noted in addition to progression in activity tolerance secondary to decreased pain levels and improved ROM which may be due to decreased edema.
Increased edema itself allows for decreased movement as the fluid build up in or around the joint capsule restricts functional movement. This effectiveness has also been found to carryover to a variety of conditions or functional limitations which does also include patients post CVA.
Clinical Experience with Kinesiology Tape
I have also noted these benefits in my experience as well as I even had one patient refer to kinesiology tape as “super hero tape”. This tape that I know jokingly refer to as “super hero tape” to some of my patients has many different research articles backing the clinical effectiveness. Kinesiology tape alone may not be the sole answer to upper extremity function or pain, however, in combination with upper extremity functional training and HEP has been shown to result in clinically significant results in upper extremity function [3].
This research has carried over to those who have experienced a stroke in which a systematic review indicated that 6 studies have shown significant information in regards to kinesiology tape reducing pain [2]. However, the effectiveness of kinesiology taping can vary depending on the condition being treated, application technique, and individual patient characteristics.
The mechanisms behind Kinesiology tape remain a topic of ongoing research, but current evidence suggests that kinesiology tape may provide short-term pain relief, enhance proprioceptive feedback, and facilitate movement without significantly restricting function.
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References
[1] Farhadian, M., Morovati, Z., & Shamsoddini, A. (2019). Effect of Kinesio Taping on Pain, Range of Motion, Hand Strength, and Functional Abilities in Patients with Hand Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial. The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery., 7(6), 551–560. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31970261/
[2] Tan, B., Jia, G., Song, Y., & Jiang, W. (2022). Effect of kinesiotaping on pain relief and upper limb function in stroke survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Translational Research., 14(5), 3372–3380. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9185082/
[3] Yang, S.-W., & Choi, J.-B. (n.d.). Effects of kinesio taping combined with upper extremity function training home program on upper limb function and self-efficacy in stroke patients: An experimental study. Medicine., 103(30). https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000039050
