Still Using Kinesio Tapes Even If Research Paper Says They Aren't Useful?

I saw two patients with badly sprained ankles this past week. The first patient was hobbling while shuffling on one foot. I definitely made both of them better. And I used Kinesio tape as part of my treatment to help with the swelling. So I was very surprised when a systematic review and meta-analysis found that Kinesio taping did not improve ankle function or performance in people with ankle injuries.

A systematic review meta analysis is a search aided by computer looking for all randomized and clinically controlled studies while meta analysis means using statistics to combine the data derived from a systematic review. So the published review is not an article to scoff at.

However, I looked through the supplementary material, and the tapes used were of course of different brands, different taping techniques were used, and it included different types of ankle injuries. Some of the taping were done on the calf muscles, some around the ankle joint, while others taped the Achilles tendon. In my opinion, that would not be fair as different brands of tape would have been compared, there were different conditions, and different techniques were implemented. Not to mention that not everyone would have learnt how to tape appropriately since there are different brands of tape. It would be similar to comparing apples to oranges.

Some of the studies

Note to self. Even if it's a systematic review or meta analysis, make sure you read everything and not just the title and the conclusion. 

As clinicians, we would never just use Kinesio tape or any tape alone just to treat a patient. For the two patients mentioned above, we would never get optimal results just using tape on them. We use our hands to assess, mobilize and/ or manipulate their ankles, while others may use needles, ice, tape or even modalities to treat their patients. Others might teach exercises to get their patients better.

Should we stop using Kinesio tapes? Definitely not. If we use them correctly, they definitely work. Have a look at another of my patient after I use the original Kinesio tapes for just five hours. Scroll down to see more evidence.

Surely you can see the outline of the Kinesio tape

Reference

Nunes GS, Feldkircher JM, Tessarin BM et al (2020). Kinesio Taping Does Not Improve Ankle Functional Or Performance In People With Or Without Ankle Injuries: Systematic Review And Meta-analysis. Clinc Rehabil. DOI: 10.1177/0269215520963846

In the picture below is a patient with a hamstring tear.

Here's how his hamstring looked like 3 days later in the picture below. I have lots more photos like these in my phone of my patients. Contact me if you're still skeptical, I'll show you all the photos from my phone if you like to see them. 

3 days later

Best Way To Use Your Imitation Kinesio Tapes

3 on my R knee

I've got 7 abrasions after falling on Tuesday, yes you read correctly, seven. 3 wounds on my right knee, 2 on my right foot, 1 on my left foot and a tiny one near my right elbow.

Lots of pain when I cleaned the abrasions first time, scrubbed them down and then put both Jelonet (a paraffin gauze dressing) and Melolin (a low adherent absorbent dressing) on the wounds to prevent the gauze from sticking to the wound -  more pain if the wound sticks to the gauze when you try to remove the dressings.

One of the wounds would not stop bleeding as I made my way to work at Physio Solutions (I see patients at PS on Tuesdays and Fridays) so I covered the dressings with Kinesio Tex Tapes. The bleeding leaked through the tapes still (that's how much it was bleeding).

Blood seeping thru the Kinesio tapes

Had to go for dinner after I came home from Physio Solutions so I took off the bloodied Kinesio Tex tapes and just wrapped underwrap over my dressings as I was in a hurry as I had to see a patient (who was gonna fly off later) at Sports Solutions. I realized my right knee felt a lot worse after I removed the Kinesio Tex tapes, especially after seeing the patient. My right shoulder also started hurting soon after my patient left.

Underwrap on my knee to hold the dressings 

After showering and doing the dressings again I put on some more Kinesio Tex Tapes on my knees, and my right shoulder as well (as it was now hurting a bit more). Again, both felt better with the Kinesio Tex Tapes.

Taped my R shoulder too

Not much pain when  got up the next day too. After a fall like that usually everything hurts the next day so I was pleasantly surprised.

I was now reluctant to take off the Kinesio Tex Tapes when I had to shower when  I had a brilliant idea. I should test the many rolls of imitation / copy cat Kinesio tapes I've been asked to try. I used some of the imitation/ copy cat Kinesio tapes which I put over the original Kinesio Tex Tapes.  They seem to keep the water off much better (so I needn't have to redress it).

The imitation Kinesio tapes kept everything dry

So falling wasn't great (because of my 7 abrasions). But in the process I learnt how to use Kinesio Tex Tapes on top of my dressings - who says you cannot use original Kinesio Tex Tapes on an open wound. And in the process found out that you can put your imitation/ copy cat Kinesio tapes to good use as well.

My knee actually feels really good now, a lot less swelling compared to 2 days ago. Hmmmm, think I can try running tomorrow? Perhaps cycling would be gentler on my knee......

Treating A Muscle Tear

Here's more proof that Kinesio tapes if used correctly helps with a muscle tear. Have a look at my patient's hamstring injury from the pictures below.

This is the picture he sent me before he came to see me in the clinic.

Check out the muscle tear

After treating his back as well as his hamstring, I put some of the original Kinesio Tex tapes and here's another picture 3 days later.

How's that for improvement 3 days later

Well, I rest my case, for those of you with muscle tears, make sure the person treating you is using the original Kinesio Tex tapes, because the copy cat/ imitation tapes simply cannot compete.

Also have a look on how to treat your hamstring injuries.

Introduction To Kinesio Taping @ Tunku Abdul Rahman University College

Almost immediately after arriving in KL yesterday afternoon, I was whisked away to Tunku Abdul Rahman University Colleague by Yannie (who had attended a previous Kinesio Taping Level 1, 2 course and our Sports Massage course)  to do the Introduction to Kinesio Taping to some of the students there. Her friends and classmates had heard a lot about Kinesio Taping and wanted to find out more.

There was a big crowd waiting for me, more than 60 plus students plus some members of the public.
Most in the crowd knew anatomy so we could get into the practical real quick.

 Here are some of the pictures from the workshop.

Explaining the weave and the wave

Sharing one many laughs with the group

Prior to the session, one of the students had been taped by her physiotherapist using copy cat tapes. I assessed her with the copycat tape, removed the copy cat and tape reassessed her before putting the original Kinesio Tex tape (in picture below).

Elaine in her best Cleopatra pose

Well Yannie didn't take a great photo of Elaine after I retaped her with Kinesio tape, but the end result was totally different to say the least.

Final touch up for Elaine's taping

Who's causing a commotion....

I had a really great time with the students and shared many laughs with them, looking forward to teaching there again.

A big thank you to Yannie, Melodie, Windson and Steve for assisting me and to Miss Ler for letting me give a show and tell to the students.

How Can the Imitation/ Copy Cat Tapes Compete?

The participants had a lot of fun on the second day of the Kinesio Taping course today. Unlike KT 1 on day one, which covered different muscle facilitation and inhibitory techniques, they learnt six different corrective techniques in KT 2

Janell in action

Hey, is that Superman's knee?

Fabian William deciding if Vanessa or Lisa can tape better

Like some of our previous participants, some of the current participants have actually attended other imitation/ copy cat tape such as Acti-tape. Kinesiology and Rock tape etc courses. Of course they were not impressed and were advised to attend Kinesio Taping courses - the original tape founded since 1979 and the real deal.

Kinesio Taping's KT 1,2 courses are held over 2 full days or 16 hours of contact time. Imitation/ copy cat tape courses are usually just half a day long. 4 hours versus 16, there is no comparison at all.

Kinesio Taping KT Level 1,2 and 3 course are the only taping courses that award recognized CME (continuing medical education) points for medical professionals who must attain a certain number of points to allow them to work with a valid license in Singapore. None of the other imitation /copy cat tape courses award CME points.

Now you know. So make sure the person treating you is trained and not using imitation or copy cat tapes.

Here are more pictures from Day 2 of the course.

Wileen under pressure

Dalong caught trying to take upskirt pictures

Class picture

Imitation Kinesio Tapes

The present batch of students at the Kinesio Taping course in Kuala Lumpur was the first time we actually compared "copycat" (or imitation tapes) to the real slim shady (or the original Kinesio Tex tapes).

There was some discussion about the imitation tapes yesterday and during today's session, 3 of the students actually brought imitation tapes along.

Here are some of the imitation tapes.

And the verdict? Which tape is the fairest of them all? Or rather, which is the best?

Well, stay tuned for the results.