The
use of Kinesiotaping for the treatment of injuries has been gaining popularity
at all levels of athletic competition. Kinesiotape is an elastic bandage
attached to the skin designed to treatment any joint injury. By applying
Kinesiotape to the skin they claim that it facilitates lymphatic drainage by
microscopically lifting the skin. This
lifting affect forms convolutions in the skin thus increasing interstitial
space and allowing for a decrease in inflammation. This then has the ability to
re-educate the neuromuscular system, reduce pain and inflammation, enhance
performance, prevent injury and promote good circulation and healing, and
assist in returning the body to homeostasis.
Do people using Kinesiotape actually gain all of these
therapeutic benefits? The quick answer to long question is, no. Numerous
studies have shown that the use of Kinesiotape has little or none of the
therapeutic benefits that there application claim to have. A study was
conducted comparing the use of Kinesiotape on health people versus people with
Achilles Tendinopathy; an injury causing pain and inflammation of the Achilles tendon.
They compared function and pain before and after application of Kinesiotape on
both the healthy and injured population. The found no improvement of function
or pain in either group.
Similarly, a study was conducted with people who had
nonspecific lower back pain. Two groups who were receiving physical therapy for
their back pain were separated. One group received the application of
Kinesiotape along with the physical therapy and the other didn’t. Both groups
saw equal improvement of back pain and range of motion. There has been shown
some slight improvement in force of movement in healthy individuals, but this
probably due to the elastic properties of the tape.
So why then is this a prevalent practice in all athletic
competitions? It may be largely a placebo treatment. By believing that
something will help your injury and make you perform better; you will probably
feel as if it did. It is becoming a ritual for many athletes, similarly as putting
on a uniform. It is part of preparing for competition and competing without it makes them feel
at a disadvantage.
- Should we as future health care providers advise our patients with joint injury to use Kinesiotape?
- Since there is no evidence showing any harm that comes from using Kinesiotape, should we advise current users to stop or let them continue to use it.
- Do you know of any other questionable treatments for injuries that we should be aware of in order to properly treat and advise our future patients?
References
Kachanathu SJ, Alenazi AM, Hafez AR. 2014. Comparison
between Kinesio Taping and a Traditional Physical Therapy Program in Treatment
of Nonspecific Low Back Pain.. The Journal of Physical Therapy Science, cited
2014 Oct 5] 26(8):1185-8. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4155216/
Simon J, Garcia W, Docherty CL. 2014. The Effect of Kinesio
Tape on Force Sense in People With Functional Ankle Instability. Clinical
Journal of Sports, cited 2014 Oct 5] ;24:289–294. Available from: http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com.dml.regis.edu/sp-3.13.0b/ovidweb.cgi?WebLinkFrameset=1&S=IHDIFPFHPLDDPMIFNCLKMHMCCHGKAA00&returnUrl=ovidweb.cgi%3f%26Full%2bText%3dL%257cjb.search.58.59%257c0%257c00042752-201407000-
Firth BL, Dingley P, Alexander CM. 2010. The Effect of
Kinesiotape on Function, Pain, andMotoneuronal Excitability in Healthy People
andPeople With Achilles Tendinopathy. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine,
cited 2014 Oct 5] 20:416–421. Available from:
http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com.dml.regis.edu/sp-3.13.0b/ovidweb.cgi?WebLinkFrameset=1&S=IHDIFPFHPLDDPMIFNCLKMHMCCHGKAA00&returnUrl=ovidweb.cgi%3f%26Full%2bText%3dL%257cjb
James,
ReplyDeleteI have personally tried kinesiotape and believed in it for some time until I read a similar study. The placebo effect is a very powerful aspect of the body that fascinates the scientist in me. Although I was a fan of the looks and the confidence it brought to my performance, as you have shown, the science does not hold up. But what if there was a way to take the idea of kinesiotape and makes it into a reality? The manifestations of such a product would be wondrous, not only to athletics, but to our healthcare system. To have a topical device that could be easily applied and provide relief of pain to joints or strained muscles would save hundreds of millions on anti-inflammatory drugs alone. I also wonder if the idea of kinesiotape could be used for other things as well. For example, could a much more elastic or stiffer version help promote musculoskeletal alignment while exercising, keeping the muscles in the correct position to avoid pulling muscle away from bone? This could help reduce stress fractures or straining a certain muscle group. Or maybe having the underside of the kinesiotape have medication on it for long term extended release of an area specific topical steroid. Because although kinesiotape failed at its original function, I love the idea that it represents to medicine; thinking outside the box of what we know and using a failed product to leap frog into the realm of the future.
It's amazing how often new products like this pop up on the market. It seems like every few months there's a new bracelet or tape that's selling the placebo effect for tons of money. With some quality marketing and a general physiological statement these companies are convincing people that they've found a cure-all. But why have people moved away from icing or using heat pads? These seem to be the tried and true methods of relieving inflammation and promoting blood flow, but have seemingly left the paradigm for treating sports injuries. I would assume most physicians would recommend icing or heating a sore muscle over kinesiotape or a similar product, but that doesn't seem to be what patients want to hear.
ReplyDeleteI think we'll see a lot of this in our futures as health care professionals, where patients will do their own research online on their injuries and may self-diagnose or even self prescribe treatment options based off what they find on the internet. One study from the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that 74% of patients surveyed had done online health related research on their own, prior to seeing a physician. Some of these people could read and believe information that is misleading or isn't true and may pursue treatment options that are opposite to our recommendations. It will then be our job to try and convince them otherwise and treat their injuries based on what has been scientifically proven to be effective.
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