A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Kinesiology Taping in Enhancing Range of Motion and Reducing Pain
Abstract
Background: Kinesiology taping, or KT, is a popular therapeutic technique among clinicians worldwide for managing musculoskeletal pain and impairment. Despite the widespread application in sports medicine, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation, a clear consensus on its efficacy for the improvement of ROM and pain reduction has not yet been achieved due to conflicting results presented in the literature.
Aim: The aim of this systematic review is to critically appraise and synthesize current evidence from RCTs regarding KT's effectiveness in improving ROM and relieving pain among patients with various musculoskeletal conditions.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PEDro databases was carried out for RCTs published between 2013 and 2024. The studies included in this review investigated the effects of KT on ROM and/or pain compared to sham taping, other interventions, or no intervention.
Results: KT is associated with a small, statistically significant short-term pain reduction in conditions such as shoulder impingement and low back pain, although the clinical relevance of these findings is often doubtful. The evidence on ROM is more conflicting, with some studies demonstrating small improvements in selected populations (for example, post-stroke and ankle sprains) while others have shown no benefit compared to sham tape or active modalities. A placebo effect would seem to be an important contributor to perceived benefits.
Conclusion: KT may be regarded, depending on the context, as a complementary modality for transient pain relief and gains in ROM. The magnitude of effect is usually small, and it may not be superior to other established interventions. Future high-quality research should focus on the standardization of application protocols, identification of optimal patient subgroups, and further elucidation of specific neurophysiological and biomechanical mechanisms of action.
Full text article
References
Aytar, A., Ozunlu, N., Surenkok, O., Baltacı, G., Oztop, P., & Karatas, M. (2011). Initial effects of kinesio® taping in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: A randomized, double-blind study. Isokinetics and Exercise Science, 19(2), 135-142. https://doi.org/10.3233/IES-2011-0413
Basnett, C. R., Hanish, M. J., Wheeler, T. J., Miriovsky, D. J., Danielson, E. L., Barr, J. B., & Grindstaff, T. L. (2013). Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion influences dynamic balance in individuals with chronic ankle instability. International journal of sports physical therapy, 8(2), 121. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23593550/
Binaei, F., Hedayati, R., Mirmohammadkhani, M., Taghizadeh Delkhoush, C., & Bagheri, R. (2021). Examining the use of Kinesiology tape during weight bearing exercises on proprioception in participants with functional ankle instability. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 128(6), 2654-2668. https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125211036425
Chang, H. Y., Chou, K. Y., Lin, J. J., Lin, C. F., & Wang, C. H. (2010). Immediate effect of forearm Kinesio taping on maximal grip strength and force sense in healthy collegiate athletes. Physical therapy in sport, 11(4), 122-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2010.06.007
Dall'Agnol, M. S., & Cechetti, F. (2018). Kinesio taping associated with acupuncture in the treatment of the paretic upper limb after stroke. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 11(2), 67-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jams.2017.12.003
de Brito Macedo, L., Richards, J., Borges, D. T., Melo, S. A., & Brasileiro, J. S. (2019). Kinesio taping reduces pain and improves disability in low back pain patients: a randomised controlled trial. Physiotherapy, 105(1), 65-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2018.07.005
De Morton, N. A. (2009). The PEDro scale is a valid measure of the methodological quality of clinical trials: a demographic study. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, 55(2), 129-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0004-9514(09)70043-1
GonzáLez-Iglesias, J., Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, C., Cleland, J., Huijbregts, P., & Gutiérrez-Vega, M. D. R. (2009). Short-term effects of cervical kinesio taping on pain and cervical range of motion in patients with acute whiplash injury: a randomized clinical trial. Journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 39(7), 515-521. https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2009.3072
Halseth, T., McChesney, J. W., DeBeliso, M., Vaughn, R., & Lien, J. (2004). The effects of kinesio™ taping on proprioception at the ankle. Journal of sports science & medicine, 3(1), 1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24497814/
Júnior, M. A. D. L., De Almeida, M. O., Santos, R. S., Civile, V. T., & Costa, L. O. P. (2019). Effectiveness of kinesio taping in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Spine, 44(1), 68-78. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000002756
Kalron, A., & Bar-Sela, S. (2013). A systematic review of the effectiveness of Kinesio Taping--fact or fashion. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med, 49(5), 699-709.
Kamari, M. Z., & Kazemi, S. (2018). Comparison of Efficacy of Kinesiological Taping and Exercise-Kinesiological Taping in Swimmer’s Shoulder Syndrome: A Randomized Control Trial. Sport and olympic-paralympic studies journal: SOPSJ, 3(1), 47-59.
Kase, K. (2003). Clinical therapeutic applications of the Kinesio (! R) taping method. Albuquerque.
Lee, J. H., & Kim, T. H. (2022). The effect of kinesiology taping on shoulder pain and range of motion in stroke patients: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 34(4), ̈–.
Lee, K. J., & An, K. O. (2021). Effects of Kinesiology Taping on Muscle Strength, Dynamic balance, and Functional Movement in Wrestlers with Chronic Ankle Instability. The Asian Journal of Kinesiology, 23(4), 21-28. https://doi.org/10.15758/ajk.2021.23.4.21
Lumbroso, D., Ziv, E., Vered, E., & Kalichman, L. (2014). The effect of kinesio tape application on hamstring and gastrocnemius muscles in healthy young adults. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies, 18(1), 130-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2013.09.011
Mak, D. N. T., Au, I. P. H., Chan, M., Chan, Z. Y. S., An, W. W., Zhang, J. H., ... & Cheung, R. T. H. (2019). Placebo effect of facilitatory Kinesio tape on muscle activity and muscle strength. Physiotherapy theory and practice, 35(2), 157-162. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2018.1441936
Mohamed, S. H. P., & Alatawi, S. F. (2023). Effectiveness of Kinesio taping and conventional physical therapy in the management of knee osteoarthritis: a randomized clinical trial. Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971-), 192(5), 2223-2233. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-03247-9
Montalvo, A. M., Cara, E. L., & Myer, G. D. (2014). Effect of kinesiology taping on pain in individuals with musculoskeletal injuries: systematic review and meta-analysis. The Physician and sportsmedicine, 42(2), 48-57. https://doi.org/10.3810/psm.2014.05.2057
Parreira, P. D. C. S., Costa, L. D. C. M., Junior, L. C. H., Lopes, A. D., & Costa, L. O. P. (2014). Current evidence does not support the use of Kinesio Taping in clinical practice: a systematic review. Journal of physiotherapy, 60(1), 31-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2013.12.008
Pramana, K. D., Duarsa, A. B. S., Widiyanto, A., Veibiani, N. A., Fajriah, A. S., Putri, S. I., ... & Akbar, P. S. (2022). Effect of Kinesio taping therapy for pain reduction in carpal tunnel syndrome patients: meta-analysis. International Journal of Health Sciences, (II), 5539-5549. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS2.6434
Rehman, N., Kashif, M., Sajjad, A., Hassan, H. M. J., & Iram, H. (2020). Immediate effects of kinesio taping on pain in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Physikalische Medizin, Rehabilitationsmedizin, Kurortmedizin, 30(06), 344-349. DOI: 10.1055/a-1147-9124
Russo, L., Bartolucci, P., Ardigò, L. P., Padulo, J., Pausic, J., & Iacono, A. D. (2018). An exploratory study on the acute effects of proprioceptive exercise and/or neuromuscular taping on balance performance. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine, 9(2). https://dx.doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.63020
Shakeri, H., Keshavarz, R., Arab, A. M., & Ebrahimi, I. (2013). Clinical effectiveness of kinesiological taping on pain and pain‐free shoulder range of motion in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome: a randomized, double blinded, placebo‐controlled trial. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 8(6), 800. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24377066/
Thelen, M. D., Dauber, J. A., & Stoneman, P. D. (2008). The clinical efficacy of kinesio tape for shoulder pain: a randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 38(7), 389-395. https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2008.2791
Vos, T., Abajobir, A. A., Abate, K. H., Abbafati, C., Abbas, K. M., Abd-Allah, F., ... & Criqui, M. H. (2017). Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet, 390(10100), 1211-1259. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32154-2
Williams, S., Whatman, C., Hume, P. A., & Sheerin, K. (2012). Kinesio taping in treatment and prevention of sports injuries: a meta-analysis of the evidence for its effectiveness. Sports medicine, 42(2), 153-164. https://doi.org/10.2165/11594960-000000000-00000
Yoon, S. W., & Kim, S. Y. (2022). Effects of upper trapezius inhibition dynamic taping on pain, function, range of motion, psychosocial status, and posture of the neck in patients with chronic neck pain. Physical Therapy Korea, 29(1), 1-10.
Zaki, Z., Ravanbod, R., Schmitz, M., & Abbasi, K. (2022). Comparison of low level and high power laser combined with kinesiology taping on shoulder function and musculoskeletal sonography parameters in subacromial impingement syndrome: a Randomized placebo-controlled trial. Physiotherapy theory and practice, 38(13), 2514-2525. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2021.1934926
Zhong, Y., Zheng, C., Zheng, J., & Xu, S. (2020). Kinesio tape reduces pain in patients with lateral epicondylitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Journal of Surgery, 76, 190-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.02.044
Authors
Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmed Mohammed Alhazmi, Bandar sahal Alotaibi, Mohammed Abdulraman A aljuhaidu, Mohammed Saeed M Aldossari, Hamad Nasser Alshadied, Zahiyah Mahdi Alanazi, Aisha Abdullah Alahmari , Amal saad Almutairi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.