Researchers were interested in examining placebo effects of kinesiology tape in improving muscle strength and activity. 60 subjects participated; approximately half were regular kinesiology tape users, while others were not. The researchers applied kinesiology tape over the wrist extensor from origin to insertion at 75% tension (“Facilitatory technique”), and compared the grip strength and EMG activity to a non-taped condition.
Regular kinesiology tape users had statistically significant increases in grip strength (although trivial effect size of 0.16) and no change in EMG or perceived self-function. There was no significant difference in strength, perceived self-function, or EMG in the kinesiology tape non-user group. The researchers concluded:
- Kinesiology tape does not appear to promote muscle activity, enhance force generation, or improve functional performance.
- There may be a trivial placebo effect on muscle force generation in regular kinesiology tape users
- Participants with a stronger belief in certain treatment modalities such as kinesiology tape may benefit from encouragement to sue their innate self-regulation skills to achieve maximum therapeutic effect.
This study supports a placebo mechanism of action for kinesiology tape’s facilitatory technique although the effect is trivial.
Mak DN et al 2018. Placebo effect of facilitatory Kinesio tape on muscle activity and muscle strength. Physiother Theory Pract 20:1-6.
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