Developed by Kenzo Kase, DC, kinesiology taping is a therapeutic taping method that utilizes a latex-free elastic tape. Whereas most athletic tape is stiff and is used to hold muscles or joints in one position, kinesiology tape is stretchy—to serve as a gentle reminder to your body to hold your shoulder in a certain way or to keep a kneecap in line while biking or running. There are four main functions of kinesiology tape:

1. Correcting muscle function. Kinesiology tape supports muscles during movement, and research has shown that it can provide a bit more stamina than the muscle alone.
2. Improving circulation of blood and lymph. Studies show that the tape increases the flow of both blood and lymph, which can help in the treatment of lymphedema, mastectomy recovery, and swelling, to name a few.
3. Correcting joint movement. The tape can be used to keep a joint, such as a knee, gliding and tracking smoothly while in use.
4. Relieving pain. The tape has an analgesic effect, similar to what has been described as the “mother’s hand effect.”

Because of its many functions, kinesiology tape can be worn both during and after activity. Kerri Walsh, the gold medalist in women’s beach volleyball at the Summer 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, wore the tape on her shoulder during her matches, and Lance Armstrong wore kinesiology tape on his knee during the Tour de France.
Using Kinesiology Tape Tape worn during competition is applied in the same way as tape used during everyday activities. Additionally, kinesiology tape can be left on for several days at a time and can even be worn in the water, as it’s water resistant. Tape should stay on pediatric and geriatric patients for about one day, but can remain on middle-aged people for four to five days.
While kinesiology tape is very effective, it shouldn’t be relied on permanently. Experts agree that the tape isn’t a cure. Instead, it should be seen as a component of the rehabilitation process; it is not meant to replace a brace or a cast. Some companies sell kinesiology tape in a roll, and others offer pre-cut selections to fit on the shoulder, the knee, or the back. The most common pre-cuts are “I” strips and “Y” strips, named for their resemblance to those letters. Oftentimes, the strips will be sold in kits designed to fit on a certain body part or for a specific injury.