There have been a few impactful studies showing the efficacy of using kinesiology tape to fight pain. For example, Lim and Tay (2015) published a meta-analysis showing thatkinesiology tape provided “superior pain relief” when compared to minimal intervention. Great - kinesiology tape works… but how? In a world full of flashy claims, so-called “experts” and chronicles of kinesiology taping theories, it’s hard to know what to believe.
So why don’t we turn to the research to learn more about the mechanisms of kinesiology taping? The hard truth is that there is not enough data to make a solid claim about how kinesiology tape works. To date, all we have are multiple concepts, mostly revolving around sensory input into the skin; but we still don't really know how kinesiology tape works.
Our resident kinesiology taping expert Dr. Phil Page is here to make sense of all of the research and theories out there. In episode three of his Kinesiology Taping 101 #TapeTuesday series, he dishes out the facts about the Gate Control Theory, how kinesiology tape may work, and much more.
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Resources: Lim EC, Tay MG 2015. Kinesio taping in musculoskeletal pain and disability that lasts for more than 4 weeks: is it time to peel off the tape and throw it out with the sweat? A systematic review with meta-analysis focused on pain and also methods of tape application. Br J Sports Med 49:1558-1566
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