Taping

 

The use of taping became much more popular after the 2008 Summer Olympics when volleyball players were seen with Kinesiotape. Entire training courses in use of Kinesiotape and other taping methods have sprung up around the country. However, the research outcome from taping are thus far unimpressive. For example:

1. Taping in shoulder impingement may be more immediately helpful than traditional therapy but that difference is not seen after the first week.

Kaya E, Zinnuroglu M, Tugcu I. Kinesio taping compared to physical therapy modalities for the treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome. Clin Rheumatol. 2010 Apr 30.
 

2. There have been five controlled trials of feet taping for plantar fasciosis that have been collectively unimpressive.

van de Water AT, Speksnijder CM.  Efficacy of taping for the treatment of plantar fasciosis: a systematic review of controlled trials.
Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2010 Jan-Feb;100(1):41-51.

 

3. Generally taping is seen as a adjunct or assist to other treatment and not generally useful for long term use. Risk of skin reactions is important to keep in mind.

Miller P, Osmotherly P Does scapula taping facilitate recovery for shoulder impingement symptoms? A pilot randomized controlled trial. J Man Manip Ther. 2009;17(1):E6

 

OUR APPROACH TO TAPING:

We are finding taping to be helpful in arch pain interfering with function because tape reactions are minimal, the support offered still allows the bones of the foot to move naturally, and the the support allows important exercise to be much better tolerated.

We do not recommend using tape under tension. In the foot we have been much more pleased with nonelastic tape. There may be situations in which tape will be recommended other than for feet, but because we recommend foot taping rather frequently, pictures have been included below that describe our preferred method.