From the Guidelines
Kinesiology taping is not recommended as a primary treatment for shoulder and knee injuries due to its limited benefits and modest effects on pain relief and functional improvement. The most recent and highest quality study, published in 2023 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine 1, found that the available evidence suggests any therapeutic effect of kinesio-tape use is likely small to non-existent. While some studies suggest that kinesiology taping may provide temporary support and pain reduction for conditions like rotator cuff tendinopathy or shoulder impingement, as well as minor stability and pain relief for conditions like patellofemoral pain syndrome or mild ligament sprains, the effects are often short-term and modest.
Key Points to Consider
- Kinesiology taping should be considered a complementary approach rather than a primary treatment for shoulder and knee injuries.
- The proposed mechanisms of kinesiology taping include proprioceptive feedback improvement, subtle mechanical support, and neurological pain inhibition through skin stimulation.
- Application of kinesiology tape typically involves cleaning the skin, applying the tape with 10-25% stretch, and leaving it in place for 3-5 days.
- More substantial benefits come from proper rehabilitation exercises, addressing biomechanical issues, and following standard injury management protocols including rest, ice, compression, and elevation in acute phases.
Evidence Review
The 2020 American College of Rheumatology guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee conditionally recommends kinesiotaping for patients with knee and/or first CMC joint OA 1. However, this recommendation is based on limited evidence and the quality of the evidence is limited by the lack of blinding with regard to use. An older study published in 2009 in The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests that patellar taping may provide short-term relief of pain and improvement in function for patients with symptomatic OA of the knee 1. However, this study is outdated and its findings are not supported by more recent and higher quality evidence. Therefore, the most recent and highest quality study 1 should be prioritized when making a recommendation.
From the Research
Kinesiology Taping for Shoulder Injuries
- The effectiveness of kinesiology taping for shoulder injuries is still a topic of debate, with some studies suggesting it may provide short-term pain relief 2, 3.
- A systematic review found insufficient evidence to support the use of kinesiology taping for musculoskeletal injuries, including those in the shoulder 2.
- A randomized clinical trial found that kinesiotaping did not lead to superior outcomes compared to exercise-based treatment alone for individuals with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain 3.
- Another study found that kinesiology tape may have limited potential to reduce pain in individuals with musculoskeletal injury, but the reduction in pain may not be clinically meaningful 4.
Kinesiology Taping for Knee Injuries
- The use of kinesiology taping for knee injuries, such as knee osteoarthritis, has been studied, but the evidence is limited 5, 6.
- A study found that the combination of physical therapy and kinesiology taping did not show significantly greater effectiveness than placebo treatment in alleviating pain and quadriceps weakness in patients with knee osteoarthritis 5.
- A meta-analysis found that kinesiology taping may have a small beneficial role in improving strength and range of motion in certain injured cohorts, but further studies are needed to confirm these findings 6.
Overall Effectiveness of Kinesiology Taping
- The current evidence suggests that kinesiology taping may have limited benefits for shoulder and knee injuries, and its effectiveness is still a topic of debate 2, 5, 6, 3, 4.
- More high-quality studies are needed to fully understand the effects of kinesiology taping on pain, function, and other outcomes for individuals with musculoskeletal injuries 2, 6, 4.