There are some mechanical effects from kinesiology tape that can reduce swelling, provide pain relief, and reduce muscle spasms,” says Christine M. Scarano Ward, DPT, Certified Kinesio Taping Instructor at Sports Performance Lab.

It is typically stretched a targeted amount and then laid onto an area of musculoskeletal dysfunction,” so you’ll see it running “along a muscle and anchoring near a joint,” she explains. Pressure points are thought to be powerfully sensitive parts of the body. Some people believe that applying pressure to the body’s pressure points… READ MORE Now it may sound too good to be true, but KT tape has specific purposes when applied correctly, says Yu. “It’s usually applied in the athletic population, commonly seen in runners with colorful tape along their shins, shoulders, or knees," she adds. "It’s also widely used in the rehab setting for reducing swelling after an operation or injury.” The effectiveness varies on the individual and type of injury, but it’s most beneficial on short-term pain and not a long-term solution, research suggests.Parreira P do CS, Costa L da CM, Hespanhol LC Jr, Lopes AD, Costa LOP. Current evidence does not support the use of Kinesio Taping in clinical practice: A systematic review. J Physiother. 2014;60(1):31-39. doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2013.12.008 [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar]

Kinesio tape should always be applied, at least initially, by a trained sports therapy professional who can determine how much tape you need, what direction it should be applied in and where it should go on your skin. Kasawara KT, Mapa JMR, Ferreira V, et al. Effects of Kinesio Taping on breast cancer-related lymphedema: A meta-analysis in clinical trials. Physiother Theory Pract. 2018;34(5):337-345. doi:10.1080/09593985.2017.1419522 [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] As a library, NLM provides access to scientific literature. Inclusion in an NLM database does not imply endorsement of, or agreement with, Decreasing swelling: If you have had swelling from an injury or surgery, kinesiology tape may help decrease the swelling by decreasing pressure between the skin and underlying tissues.This provides a pathway for excess fluids to travel through.Kinesiology tape is sometimes used in lymphedema management or for superficial contusions (bruises). For KT tension length, most of the respondents believed their preferred tape tension length enhanced proprioception and kinesthetic sense (59%) and modulated pain (55%), while a substantial portion felt it increased local circulation (43%), enhanced myofascial mobility (23%)., and provided a placebo effect (40%) ( Table 2). The research on the efficacy of tape length tension will be further discussed in the next section on clinical application of KT.Hypoallergenic and latex-free, it's great for sensitive skin and it can last for up to three days at a time. KT Tape is an elastic adhesive tape commonly used to treat musculoskeletal dysfunction,” explains Leada Malek, D.P.T., C.S.C.S., a physical therapist and board-certified sports specialist.

If your skin is irritated or damaged, don’t reapply tape. Consider talking talk to your physical therapist or doctor.

Kinesiology tape is a flexible material that moves when you move. Athletic tape is relatively inflexible.

Before using it, you should talk to a physical therapist, because it’s most useful when combined with other treatment methods.Ager AL, Borms D, Bernaert M, et al. Can a Conservative Rehabilitation Strategy Improve Shoulder Proprioception? A Systematic Review. J Sport Rehabil. 2020;30(1):136-151. doi:10.1123/jsr.2019-0400 [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Meeusen L, Candidori S, Micoli LL, Guidi G, Stanković T, Graziosi S. Auxetic structures used in kinesiology tapes can improve form-fitting and personalization. Sci Rep. 2022 Aug 5;12(1):13509. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-17688-w. With that said, there are a few steps you can expect to follow no matter how or why you're using kinesiology tape. “Before applying tape, the skin needs to be clean, dry, and free of any oil or moisturizers,” Dr. Scarano Ward says. These steps can help you ensure the tape properly adheres to your skin.