Jordan Anderson, SPT
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developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase in 1979 to have
qualities similar to human skin
allows 50-60% longitudinal stretch of resting
length (does not stretch horizontally)
about the same thickness of the epidermis
polymer elastic strands wrapped in cotton
fibers, heat-activated acrylic adhesive
can be worn for 3-5 days before reapplication
is needed
Skin
provides gentle stimulation to sensory
receptors during movement to activate the
descending inhibitory system and decrease
pain (Gate Control Theory)
or
 affects both acute sensory experience from
small afferents and prolonged sense of pain
from the neural matrix (Neuromatrix Theory)
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Circulation and Lymph
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“opens up” superficial lymphatic channels by
lifting the endothelial cells of the dermis they
are connected to by anchoring filaments
allows decreased pressure of these vessels,
encouraging more fluid flow to remove
inflammatory substances from the area
muscle taping produces the same effect for
deeper lymphatic vessels
Fascia
minimizes fascial contraction following acute
soft tissue injury
 helps reorganize alignment of fibers during
chronic injury
by reducing pain and increasing circulation via
previously mentioned methods
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Muscle
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takes advantage of neural control of
movement by assisting the Golgi Tendon
Organs in sensation of muscle length and
tension to protect them from excessive force
Joint
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reduces strain on joint ligaments to inhibit
the protective excitatory reflex and provide
proper proprioception of the injured joint,
which allows more appropriate movement
“Recoiling”
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Mechanical correction; provides positional stimulation
through skin; use 50-75% stretch
“Holding”
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Fascia correction; gathers fascia to provide proper tissue
alignment; use 25-50% stretch
“Lifting”
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Space correction; reduces pressure around the affected area
be increasing space; use 25-50% stretch
“Pressure”
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Ligament/Tendon correction; increase stimulation of
mechanoreceptors for proprioception; use 50-75% stretch
“Spring”
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Functional correction; provides sensory stimulation to either
inhibit or enhance a motion; use 50-100% stretch
“Channeling”
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Lymphatic correction; channels fluid to nearest lymph duct by
decreasing pressure under the taped area; use 0-15% stretch
Jae-Yong Shim, Hye-Ree Lee, Duk-Chul Lee
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22 male New Zealand White rabbits were put under
anesthesia and had a cannula inserted into a lymphatic vessel
in the lower left hind leg
lymph flow rate was measured for 4 separate protocols: rate
without passive exercise, rate with passive exercise, rate
according to tape area with passive exercise, and rate
according to tape site with passive exercise (each protocol
included tape and no-tape conditions)
statistically significant increase in lymph flow rate was found
for: taping vs no taping with passive exercise, increasing area
of tape, and applying tape to upper or whole leg vs no tape
Han-Ju Tsai, Hsiu-Chuan Hung, Jing-Lan Yang,
Chiun-Sheng Huang, Jau-Yih Tsauo
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41 patients were separated into 2 groups: 1. standard
decongestive lymphatic therapy with pneumatic compression,
and 2. modified decongestive lymphatic therapy (bandage
replaced with Kinesio Tape) with pneumatic compression
each patient completed a 4-week control period, 4-week
intervention period, and 3-month follow-up; measurements
were taken for water displacement, arm circumference, water
composition, self-rated symptom severity (fullness, tightness,
discomfort), quality of life, and response to bandage or tape
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statistically significant improvement after the intervention
period was found for: water displacement, circumference,
water composition, and all 3 self-rated symptoms in the
bandage group; but only forearm circumference, water
composition, and all 3 self-rated symptoms in the KT group
statistical significance for between-group outcomes were not
mentioned
patient acceptance of KT was more than that of the bandage
and those in the KT group reported increased ease-of-use,
longer use, and more comfort and convenience than those in
the bandage group
Javier González-Iglesias, César Fernández-delas-Peñas, Joshua Cleland, Peter Huijbregts,
Maria del Rosario Gutiérrez-Vega
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41 patients with a diagnosis of cervical whiplash-associateddisorders due to a MVA were randomly assigned to a
therapeutic Kinesio Tape group or a sham Kinesio Tape group
measurements for neck pain, Neck Disability Index, and
cervical range of motion (flexion, extension, right and left
rotation, and right and left lateral flexion) were taken before
tape application, immediately post-application, and 24 hours
post-application
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the Kinesio Tape group received a taping
application with about 20% tension
according to Kinesio Tape guidelines, the
sham group received a similar taping
application with no tension
statistically significant improvements
immediately post-application and 24
hours post-application were found for:
neck pain and cervical ROM (all directions)
in the Kinesio Tape group vs the sham group
Manuel Saavedra-Hernández, Adelaida M.
Castro-Sánchez, Manuel Arroyo-Morales,
Joshua A. Cleland, Inmaculada C. LaraPalomo, César Fernández-de-las-Peñas
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80 patients with mechanical idiopathic neck pain were
randomly assigned to either the Kinesio Tape group or the
Manipulation group
measurements for neck pain, Neck Disability Index, and
cervical range of motion (flexion, extension, right and left
rotation, and right and left lateral flexion) were taken at
baseline and 7 days post-treatment
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(A)
(B)
(C)
the Kinesio Tape group received a taping application with
about 20% stretch according to Kinesio Tape guidelines (A),
the Manipulation group received a midcervical thrust
manipulation (B) at the level of C3 and a cervicothoracic
junction thrust manipulation (C) at C7-T1
statistically significant improvement was found for: left and
right rotation in the Manipulation group vs the KT group
Yin-Hsin Hsu, Wen-Yin Chen, Hsiu-Chen Lin,
Wendy T.J. Wang, Yi-Fen Shih
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17 baseball players with shoulder impingement syndrome
were randomly assigned to one of two groups; each group
received both Kinesio Tape and placebo tape (3M nonelastic)
application, but in opposite order, over the lower trapezius
measurements were taken for scapular motion, EMG activity
of the upper and lower trapezius and serratus anterior, and
lower trapezius strength at baseline and after application of
each taping condition
statistically significant difference between taping conditions
was found for: increased lower trapezius EMG activity for KT
vs placebo tape from 60-30˚ of scaption (lowering)
Mark D. Thelen, James A. Dauber, Paul D.
Stoneman
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42 patients with a diagnosis of rotator cuff tendinitis or
impingement were randomly assigned into a therapeutic
Kinesio Tape group or sham Kinesio Tape group
the KT group received taping application according to Kinesio
Tape guidelines for rotator cuff tendinitis; the sham group
received taping application of 2 pieces of Kinesio Tape with
no tension over the lateral upper and mid- arm
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measurements were taken for pain-free active range of
motion, pain level, and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index at
baseline, immediately after application (except the SPADI), 3
day follow-up, and 6 day follow-up
patients wore the tape for 48-72 hours, came in for their 3
day follow-up, received a re-application of tape, wore it for
another 48-72 hours, and came in for their final follow-up
statistically significant changes were found for: increased
pain-free shoulder abduction in the KT group vs sham group
immediately post-application, improved SPADI scores for
both groups at the 3 day follow-up, and improvement in all
outcome measures for both groups at the 6 day follow-up
P.L. Chen, W.H. Hong, C.H. Lin, W.C. Chen
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15 women with PFPS and 10 healthy women were all
evaluated for ground reaction forces (GRFs) and EMG activity
(timing and ratio) of the vastus medialis and lateralis
each group received a taping application for the VMO and VL
according to Kinesio Tape guidelines, the same application
using nonelastic athletic tape, and a no tape condition; all
participants then completed a stair-stepping task (ascencding
and descending)
statistically significant differences were found for: decreased
GRF during descending stairs for KT vs no tape in subjects
with PFPS and increased VMO/VL ratio for KT vs no tape in
subjects with PFPS
Travis Halseth, John W. McChesney, Mark
DeBeliso, Ross Vaughn, Jeff Lien
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30 patients were randomly assigned to a taping or no-tape
condition first; all participants completed both conditions;
taping application was for a lateral ankle sprain according to
Kinesio Tape guidelines
patients sat with their bare foot on a moveable platform, were
blindfolded, and wore earphones playing white noise; the
platform was passively moved into a randomly-generated
angle (plantarflexion and inversion with 20 degrees PF), held
for 5 seconds, and returned to neutral, the patient then
performed 5 trials of recreating each position
no statistically significant differences were found between
conditions
Kristin Briem, Hrefna Eythorsdottir, Ragnheidur
G. Magnusdottir, Runar Palmarsson, Tinna
Runarsdottir, Thorarinn Sveinsson
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51 male athletes received the Star Excursion Balance test, the
top 15 and bottom 15 scores were used for the study
participants stood on one foot on a balance board while a 10kg weight was dropped onto the posterolateral edge of the
board; EMG for mean and peak muscle activity of the fibularis
longus was recorded for 3 trials of each condition (Kinesio
Tape, nonelastic athletic tape, and no tape)
statistically significant difference (increase) in mean muscle
activation was found at 500ms for the unstable vs stable
group and overall for the athletic tape vs no tape group
Shim JY, Lee HR, Lee DC. The use of elastic adhesive tape to promote lymphatic flow in the rabbit hind leg.
Yonsei Medical Journal 2003; 44(6): 1045-1052.
Tsai HJ, Hung HC, Yang JL, Huang CS, Tsauo JY. Could Kinesio tape replace the bandage in decongestive lymphatic
therapy for breast-cancer-related lymphedema? A pilot study. Support Care Cancer 2009; 17: 1353-1360.
González-Iglesias J, Fernández-de-las-Penas C, Cleland J, Huijbregts P, Gutiérrez-Vega M. Short-term effects of
cervical Kinesio taping on pain and cervical range of motion in patients with acute whiplash injury: A
randomized clinical trial. JOSPT 2009; 39(7): 515-521.
Saavedra-Hernández M, Castro-Sánchez AM, Arroyo-Morales M, Cleland JA, Lara-Palomo IC, Fernández-de-lasPenas C. Short-term effects of Kinesio taping versus cervical thrust manipulation in patients with mechanical
neck pain: A randomized clinical trial. JOSPT 2012; 42(8): 724-730.
Hsu YH, Chen WY, Lin HC, Wang WTJ, Shih YF. The effects of taping on scapular kinematics and muscle
performance in baseball players with shoulder impingement syndrome. Journal of Electromyography and
Kinesiology 2009; 19: 1092-1099.
Thelen MD, Dauber JA, Stoneman PD. The clinical efficacy of Kinesio tape for shoulder pain: A randomized,
double-blinded, clinical trial. JOSPT 2008; 38(7): 389-395.
Chen PL, Hong WH, Lin CH, Chen WC. Biomechanics effects of Kinesio taping for persons with patellofemoral pain
syndrome during stair climbing. Biomed 2008; 21: 395-397.
Halseth T, McChesney JW, DeBeliso M, Vaughn R, Lien J. The effects of Kinesio taping on proprioception at the
ankle. JSSM 2004; 3:1-7.
Briem K, Eythörsdöttir H, Magnúsdóttir RG, Pálmarsson R, Rúnarsdöttir T, Sveinsson T. Effects of Kinesio tape
compared with nonelastic sports tape and the untaped ankle during a sudden inversion perturbation in male
athletes. JOSPT 2011; 41(5): 328-335.
Kase K, Wallis J, Kase T (2003). Clinical Therapeutic Applications of the Kinesio Taping Method (2nd ed.). Tokyo,
Japan: Ken Ikai Co. Ltd.
Hancock D. Scientific Explanation of Kinesio® Tex Tape. Obtained from:
http://hitechtherapy.ipcoweb.com/user_images/kinesiotex/scientific_explanation_kinesiotex.pdf