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. Some people may experience short-term performance benefits from using KT tape. But don’t expect to suddenly turn into a LeBron James-style athlete. Andrýsková A, Lee JH. The guidelines for application of kinesiology tape for prevention and treatment of sports injuries. Healthcare (Basel). 2020 May 26;8(2):144. doi:10.3390/healthcare8020144

When KT tape is properly applied, the elasticity in the KT tape gently lifts the skin from the tissues below. This gentle lifting of the skin creates a space to improve blood and lymphatic flow which ultimately helps to alleviate pressure and reduce swelling.Your therapist can let you know how much stretch to use in the treatment area. To get a 75 percent stretch, extend the tape as far as it will go and then release it about a quarter of its length. Respondents reported commonly used a KT tension length range of Anyone suffering from sore muscles or joint pain due to minor sprains/strains or chronic inflammatory conditions like osteoporosis can benefit from using KT tape. On skin, the Kinesio Tape pulls the upper layers of skin, creating more space between the dermis and the muscle.

Recovering from serious sports injuries calls for physical therapy by a trained sports therapy professional. “There’s really no replacement for the neuromuscular reeducation you get through physical therapy,” he says. How to use KT tape I always tell patients to tape with purpose,” she says. “Yes, it looks cool. But ultimately, you’re working toward not needing the tape.” When you stretch the tape, use the whole length of your thumb across the tape to get an even stretch. Hypoallergenic and latex-free, it's great for sensitive skin and it can last for up to three days at a time.

Kase, K., Hashimoto, T., and Okane, T. (1996) Kinesio Perfect Taping Manual. (pp.1-10).Universal Printing and Publishing, Inc.