Elastic therapeutic tape
Elastic therapeutic tape is a cotton strip with an acrylic adhesive that is used for treating athletic injuries and a variety of physical disorders. It was invented by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor, in the 1970s.
For the first decade after its introduction, orthopedists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and other medical practitioners in Japan were the main users of the theraputic tape. During the second decade after its introduction the tape was adopted by Japanese Olympic and professional athletes.
Adoption
The tape is used in therapy to relax overused muscles and in rehabilitation to facilitate underused muscles.[1] Advocates claim that the wave pattern found on the tape's adhesive has a lifting effect on the skin which can reduce swelling and inflammation by improving circulation and reduce pain by taking pressure off pain receptors.[2] The elastic properties can also be utilized in a mechanical fashion to limit or encourage a specific motion at a joint.
The popularity of elastic therapeutic sport tape in the United States surged after 50,000 rolls were donated and the tape was seen on Olympic athletes in the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. Of these athletes, the most notable was Kerri Walsh who used the tape in competition following surgery on her rotator cuff. Lance Armstrong, 7 times winner of the Tour de France, talks about using tape in his book, where he describes the effectiveness of the treatment for his sore muscles.[3] Serena Williams has also used therapeutic tapes during competition.[4] University of Connecticut basketball player Hasheem Thabeet wore black therapeutic tape on his left shoulder during the 2009 Men's NCAA basketball tournament.[5] In the 2011 NCAA tournament, the tape was seen on numerous players including Ohio State's Jared Sullinger.
Evidence
There is very little evidence that elastic therapeutic tape produces clinically significant benefits.
- One randomized, double-blind study of the tape showed no medium- or long-term benefit, although there was a statistically significant effect immediately after application. The authors conclude "Utilization of KT [Kinesio tape] for decreasing pain intensity or disability for young patients with suspected shoulder tendonitis/impingement is not supported."[6]
- A randomized clinical trial of patients with whiplash found an effect that was statistically significant, but "improvements in pain and cervical range of motion were small and may not be clinically meaningful."[7]
- A study of the effect of Kinesio taping on muscle strength found "Kinesio taping on the anterior thigh neither decreased nor increased muscle strength in healthy non-injured young athletes."[8]
- A study of the effect of elastic taping on baseball players with shoulder impingement found "elastic taping resulted in positive changes in scapular motion and muscle performance."[9]
- A study of the effect of Kinesio Taping on changes in the tone of the vastus medialis muscle during isometric contractions found an increase in muscle tone 24 hours after application, but a decrease to the baseline during the fourth day. The authors conclude "Kinesio Taping used shortly before the motor activity it is supposed to support may fail to fulfil its function."[10]
- A study of the effect of kinesio taping on lower trunk range of motion found an increase in range of motion for flexion, but no significant difference for extension or lateral flexion.[11]
References
- Notes
- ^ http://www.sacbee.com/adrenaline/story/1193641.html
- ^ Boyarsky, Andrea. "Ready! Set! Tape!" Staten Island Advance, 25 August 2008. http://www.silive.com/healthfit/advance/index.ssf?/base/living/121966110350380.xml&coll=1
- ^ Every Second Counts, by Lance Armstrong (Author), Sally Jenkins (Collaborator)
- ^ "Olympic Tape Mystery Revealed - CBS News Video". Cbsnews.com. 2008-08-21. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4369435n. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/1451994.html
- ^ "The Clinical Efficacy of Kinesio Tape for Shoulder Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Clinical Trial - JOSPT – Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy". Jospt.org. doi:10.2519/jospt.2008.2791. http://www.jospt.org/issues/articleID.1422,type.14/article_detail.asp. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ González-Iglesias J, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Cleland JA, Huijbregts P, Del Rosario Gutiérrez-Vega M (July 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". The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 39 (7): 515–21. doi:10.2519/jospt.2009.3072. PMID 19574662.
- ^ Fu TC, Wong AM, Pei YC, Wu KP, Chou SW, Lin YC (April 2008). "Effect of Kinesio taping on muscle strength in athletes-a pilot study". Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport / Sports Medicine Australia 11 (2): 198–201. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2007.02.011. PMID 17588814.
- ^ Hsu YH, Chen WY, Lin HC, Wang WT, Shih YF (December 2009). "The effects of taping on scapular kinematics and muscle performance in baseball players with shoulder impingement syndrome". Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 19 (6): 1092–9. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2008.11.003. PMID 19147374.
- ^ Słupik A, Dwornik M, Białoszewski D, Zych E (2007). "Effect of Kinesio Taping on bioelectrical activity of vastus medialis muscle. Preliminary report". Ortopedia, Traumatologia, Rehabilitacja 9 (6): 644–51. PMID 18227756. http://www.ortopedia.com.pl/fulltxt.php?ICID=729506.
- ^ Yoshida A, Kahanov L (2007). "The effect of kinesio taping on lower trunk range of motions". Research in Sports Medicine 15 (2): 103–12. doi:10.1080/15438620701405206. PMID 17578750.
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