Over the course of the last few years, it seems that we see more and more athletes wearing tape to improve performance and reduce injury while participating in their respective sports (i.e., the summer Olympics). You may wonder the purpose of the use of this therapeutic taping, as well as it’s effectiveness. At Capital Area PT and Wellness in Malta, the use of several different therapeutic taping techniques is an option in the right case or for the right individual. Below you will read an outline of different taping styles/techniques and how they may benefit our patients:

McConnell Taping is used for a number of purposes. According to the McConnell Institute’s website, some effects of this method are: pain reduction, altering muscle activation patterns, changing joint position, and improving muscle strength, timing, joint range, and joint loading. This type of tape is more rigid and less flexible than Kinesio Tape (KT), and generally is not thought to be the technique of choice for higher-level activity such as athletics. This technique is used widely in dealing with knee impairments, particularly improving position-sense around the kneecap to reduce pain and improve quadriceps function. However, this tape can also be applied to address the shoulder (scapular re-positioning, rotator cuff dysfunction), elbow (tennis/golfer’s elbow), hip (trochanteric bursitis, labral tears), ankle (instability, sprains) and more.

Kinesio Taping, on the other hand, is the type of tape that is more rapidly gaining popularity- thanks in large to its use in pop-culture and professional athletes. This variety of tape is much more flexible, comfortable during movement, and even comes in an array of colors and designs. Compared to McConnell tape’s 1-2 day average life, KT can typically last for about 3-5 days. Some of the benefits KT provides are: pain relief, reduced swelling/inflammation/bruising, relief of muscle spasms and cramps, structural support on weak or injured muscles and joints, faster recovery of overused muscles, and enhancing strength and muscle tone in weak or injured muscles. Some commonly used procedures in our clinic include taping to reduce symptoms of shoulder impingement, scapular postural correction, address tennis elbow, treat carpal tunnel syndrome, reduce neck & low back pain, and diminish swelling (particularly of the knee and ankle). One specific type of KT available is Rock Tape, which is becoming a favorite of both physical therapists and patients alike.

While it is true that the use of tap is not going to be therapeutic for every patient, it certainly would be advisable to talk to your PT to see if it is right for you. There is an evolving list of indications for taping- much more than what is listed above. At Capital Area PT, we may use these techniques as an adjunct to an overall well rounded treatment approach.