For a product that has not been scientifically proven to be effective, kinesiology tape has done very well. With a market size of 180 million US dollars, there is no denying that kinesiology tape, especially the colourful stretchy variety, is here to stay.

Professional tennis players, high-profile basketball players, and other prominent athletes with kinesiology tapes crisscrossing their bodies have become a familiar sight on sports channels. There is speculation that the tape manufacturers use the athletes’ bodies for product placement. While this may be partially true, you would have to assume that there is more to kinesiology tape than mere marketing fluff.

With so many people using it, the real question is, does kinesiology tape work?

If you are a club-level squash or tennis player, at some point you may have contemplated trying kinesiology tape. Irrespective of your fitness level, squash and tennis eventually take a toll on your body. Muscle rollers, resistance bands, compression socks, support sleeves, and braces become part of the contents of your racquet bag.

As a regular user of elbow support sleeves and knee braces, I was intrigued by the apparent simplicity of the athletic tape. After a bit of research, I landed on a brand of kinesiology tape that had 350 reviews and a 4-star rating on Amazon. The company promised no-hassle application and great adhesiveness that lasted up to seven days.

Now that I have been out on the courts a few times wearing the tape, I am ready to share my thoughts on kinesiology tape. So, here we go.

Brand

In case you didn’t know, the original Kinesio Tex tape was invented in 1979 by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese American Chiropractor. However, many other manufacturers, such as KT Tape, have successfully leveraged the terms “KT” and “Kinesiology” to launch products that have gained more popularity and traction than the original one. KT Tape’s list of athletes is impressive.

While some brands of kinesiology tape are considered best in class, customer reviews would indicate that their reviews are mixed. Here is a list that compares some of the top kinesiology tape brands that you can use as your starting point.

Coverage

Something unique about kinesiology tape is that it can be applied to any part of your body, which cannot be said for braces and support sleeves.

The tapes can be custom-fitted when applied by a professional to address light injuries to the shoulder, back, neck, or even the stomach area. Flexibility, ease of use, adhesiveness, and water resistance are the key properties touted by kinesiology tape manufacturers. They do not claim heavy-duty support capabilities.

If your injury is moderate to severe, you should seek medical advice and not rely on kinesiology tape as the solution.

Cost

While there are kinesiology tapes that fall on the lower and higher end of the price spectrum, you can pick up a standard roll of 20 pre-cut 10” tapes for around 20 US dollars (or approximately one dollar per strip). Uncut rolls come in bulk packaging and are less expensive with the price point dropping to about fifty cents per strip.

While the price sounds reasonable, it should be noted that kinesiology tape is a single-use product. A typical application takes three to four strips per afflicted area, which would mean that a twenty-strip pack will last you five days. Even though the tapes can stay on longer, I remove them after my game to ensure that my muscles don’t rely on them for typical day-to-day activities.

You can do the math to figure out if kinesiology tape is an economically feasible option for you.

Application

There is a reason why most videos on kinesiology tape show professional trainers applying it for the athletes.

I messed up three strips before getting it somewhat right. When applying the tape yourself, the positioning, the percentage of stretch, and the patterns are all guestimates. Extra care should be taken to avoid stretching the anchoring ends of the tape, failing which the tape will lose its adhesive qualities.

Taping an elbow or a shoulder can get complicated, and you may need assistance to do it right. Since I was doing it on my own, I decided to tape my knee, which is perhaps the less complicated application of the lot.

Effectiveness

The first thing that you notice when you play wearing kinesiology tapes is that they blend in with your skin. The same cannot be said for knee braces. Unlike a fixed-specs brace or sleeve, the tape can be applied in a customized manner to address your specific needs.

Switching from a brace to kinesiology tape, I started out tentatively but grew more confident as I went along. The taping provided a level of support and stability to my knees without hindering my movements on the court.

That said, you should know that taping is considered a temporary fix for minor muscle ailments and is not a permanent solution to chronic injuries.

Would I recommend it?

Depending on the nature of your injury, it is certainly worth a try. The next time you end up with a pulled muscle or a tennis elbow, give kinesiology tapes a shot.

As for me, my injuries are chronic. I have gone back to my braces. However, I pack a roll of kinesiology tape in my racquet bag.

Just in case.