You’ve probably seen people walking around with colourful strips of tape on their knees, shoulders, backs or ankles and wondered, “What is that actually doing?”
Taping is a common physiotherapy treatment, but it’s not just about sticking a piece of tape onto a painful area and hoping for the best.
At PhT Therapy, we use taping as part of a wider treatment plan when we feel it can help with pain, movement or support. We mainly use Kinesiology Tape (KT Tape, depending on what the patient needs.
So, What Does Taping Actually Do?
Taping can provide a combination of sensory feedback, support and movement assistance.
The tape stimulates the skin and gives your brain extra information about the area being treated. For some people, this can help reduce their awareness of pain and make movement feel more comfortable.
Depending on the type of tape and how it is applied, it can also provide support during movement or help manage the load going through a particular area.
Think of it as a little bit of extra help while your body is getting back to doing its job.
KT Tape or Rigid Taping? What’s the Difference?
There are lots of different types of sports and medical tape available, but at PhT we mainly use two.
Kinesiology Tape (KT Tape) is lightweight and stretchy. It is designed to move with your body and is often used to give gentle support while still allowing full movement. It can also provide sensory feedback to the area, which may help some people feel more aware and comfortable when moving. It is commonly used around areas such as the shoulder, knee, ankle and wrist.
Rigid taping is very different. It is firm and non-stretch, meaning it is used to restrict or control movement in a specific direction. This type of taping is often used when we want to provide more structural support, such as limiting certain movements that may be aggravating an injury or helping to protect a joint during early recovery or return to activity.
Your physiotherapist will decide which type is more appropriate based on your symptoms, your stage of recovery and what we are trying to achieve in your rehabilitation.
Does the Research Actually Support Taping?
This is where it’s important to be realistic.
Research suggests that taping can provide short-term improvements in pain and function for some musculoskeletal conditions, but the evidence is mixed and the effects are generally not considered a cure for the underlying problem.
For example, studies looking at kinesiology taping for conditions such as patellofemoral pain have found that it may help reduce pain in the short term, particularly when combined with exercise and other rehabilitation.
Research on taping also suggests that its benefits can vary considerably between individuals.
That’s why at PhT Therapy, we don’t use tape simply because someone has pain. We consider whether it has a useful role within their overall rehabilitation.
When Might We Use Taping?
Taping can be useful for a variety of conditions we see in clinic.
Some examples include:
Knee pain: Tape may be used to help reduce discomfort during activities such as walking, stairs or exercise.
Shoulder problems: It can provide additional sensory feedback and may help some patients feel more comfortable when reaching or moving the arm.
Ankle injuries: Taping can sometimes provide additional support and confidence when returning to activity after an ankle injury.
Wrist and thumb pain: Tape may help support the area during everyday movements or exercise.
Tendon problems: In some cases, Dynamic Tape can be used to help modify the load placed through an irritated tendon while rehabilitation progresses.
It’s Not Just About Pain
One of the most useful things about taping is that it can sometimes help people move more confidently.
For example, someone may have pain when performing a squat. After assessment and appropriate taping, they may find the movement feels more comfortable.
That doesn’t mean the tape has “fixed” the knee.
Instead, it may give us a window where the person can move and exercise more comfortably while we work on the underlying issue.
And that’s where the rest of physiotherapy comes in.
Where Does PhT Physio Come In?
At PhT Therapy, taping is never the whole treatment.
We first assess the problem and look at things such as strength, joint movement, muscle control and how you’re moving.
Depending on the condition, your treatment may include:
- Manual therapy
- Joint mobilisations
- Strength and conditioning
- Exercise therapy
- Movement retraining
- Therapeutic ultrasound where appropriate
- Taping
- Return-to-sport rehabilitation
The tape is simply one tool in the toolbox.
Why We Don’t Just Tape Everyone
If tape worked exactly the same way for everyone, we’d be putting it on everyone!
But that’s not how physiotherapy works.
Some people respond really well to taping, while others notice very little difference. Some conditions may benefit from it, while others are better managed with exercise, manual therapy or a different approach.
We also need to consider your skin, allergies, activity levels and how long the tape is appropriate for.
That’s why the application matters too. The type of tape, direction, tension and placement can all be chosen according to what we’re trying to achieve.
Tape On, Rehab On!
Taping can be a useful addition to physiotherapy when it’s used for the right person and the right reason.
It may help reduce pain, improve confidence with movement or modify the load on a particular area, but it shouldn’t replace proper rehabilitation.
We look at the bigger picture and use taping alongside treatments that help you build strength, improve movement and get back to the activities you enjoy.
If you’re dealing with an injury or ongoing pain and wondering whether taping could help, come and see us. We’ll assess the problem properly and work out whether tape has a place in your treatment plan.
