Kinesio taping in sports: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: Kinesio tape (KT) has been proposed as an easy and cost-efficient method to help athletes. However, researchers have suggested that KT effectiveness varies while remaining a practical, easy, and inexpensive method.

Objectives: The present study is a review of articles that assessed KT effects on pain, performance/function, strength, and injury prevention in athletes or physically active individuals.

Methods: The present Review was conducted on Google Scholar, PubMed, SPORT, MEDLINE, and Science Direct according to the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA- ScR) guidelines. Peer-viewed studies were in English between January 2010 and July 2021 and the keywords for research included "Kinesio taping" (taping, kinesiology tape), "sport", "athletes", "exercise".

Results: Fifty studies on KT effectiveness were considered in this review. All full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. Ten papers were on how KT effects pain in athletes, 24 investigated the effect of KT on athletes' performance, 12 were aimed at potential strength gains, 8 assessed proprioception and balance, and 3 articles were on injury prevention. In seven articles two topics were examined, so those papers were included in two different sections of our results.

Conclusion: Overall 54% of publications agreed that KT was not effective, 46% found some evidence supporting its effectiveness.

Keywords: Athletes; Balance; Injury prevention; Kinesiotape; Pain; Performance; Strength.