Kinesiotaping (KT), developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase in the 1970s, is an elastic taping method designed to support musculoskeletal function without restricting mobility. It is thought to act through mechanical, sensory, neuromuscular, and psychological mechanisms that may reduce pain, enhance proprioception, and improve circulation.
Evidence indicates short-term benefits, including modest pain relief, improved range of motion, and temporary edema reduction. However, effects on muscle strength, long-term recovery, and athletic performance remain inconsistent. Study limitations—such as small samples, variable techniques, and placebo influences—restrict definitive conclusions.
Clinically, KT should be used as an adjunct therapy, particularly for pain, edema, or post-stroke rehabilitation, while further rigorous research is needed to confirm its efficacy.
- Quote paper
- Tobias Giesen (Author), 2024, Evaluating the Physiological and Clinical Effects of Kinesiotaping. A Systematic Evidence-Based Perspective, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1662070