What to know about how KT tape works, what the science says about its effectiveness, and whether you should invest if you’re looking to support your stride.
Kinesio Tape Might Be Your New Best Friend to Ease Pain and Help Muscle Inhibition Ashley Mateo
If you’ve run a race, you’ve probably seen runners sporting strips of tape sometimes bright, sometimes flesh colored down their legs or around their knees. You might even know that it’s called kinesiology tape (or kinesio tape and even“KT tape” thanks to the popular brand for short). But what does kinesiology tape
do >P? How does it work? And can it really help? We tapped top experts in the field to get you answers.
What Is Kinesiology Tape?
Kinesiology tape is, quite literally, tape that you (or, really, your physical therapist or doctor) apply to your muscles.“It’s an elastic tape that provides sensory input into an area, but still allows for full range of motion,” explains Laurey Lou, a physical therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery Sports Medicine in Westchester, New York.