You have likely seen athletes and gym-goers using the colourful muscle tape in strategic positions as a way of easing pressure on their joints and alleviating pain. 

Kinesiology tape is almost identical to human skin in both thickness and elasticity, which allows the tape to be worn without binding, constricting or restriction of your movement.

What is the science behind kinesiology taping?

Kinesio tape works off the science of kinesiology, which is a fundamental aspect of physical therapy.

• Tape can be used to unload (shorten) the inflamed tissue and perhaps improve joint alignment by providing a constant low load on the soft tissue. 
• It allows to break the endless cycle of increased pain and decreased activity, which allows the clinician to address the patient’s poor dynamic control.

• They have a proprioceptive effect, working on the pain gate mechanism (Jerosch et al 1996, Verhagen et al 2000).
• Some taping techniques help with the primary purpose of altering muscle activity (by inhibition or facilitation).
• Tape may be used to unload inflamed neural tissue. The unloading tape enables the patient to be treated without an increase in symptoms, so that, in the long term, treatment is more efficacious

Taping continues to be an essential part of a physiotherapist’s treatment in the various stages of rehabilitation after injury and return to competition. 

Therefore, the Key to the successful of management of patient’s condition is to complement this technique in various stages of their exercise programs.

Patient After-Care Advice

• If the tape makes symptoms worse, then take it off
• If the tape starts to come off, then rub it to re-activate the tape adhesive
• Look out for any adverse skin reactions and immediately take it off slowly as shown.