Therapists sometimes use kinesiology taping as one part of an overall treatment plan for people who’ve been injured. The American Physical Therapy Association reports that kinesiology taping is most effective when it’s used in conjunction with other treatments like manual therapy.

We use kinesiology taping to mitigate pain and swelling.

Kinesiology tape is also used to add extra support to muscles or joints that need it. If you have patellofemoral stress syndrome, IT band friction syndrome, or Achilles tendonitis, kinesiology taping might help you. 

Unlike white medical or athletic tape, kinesiology tape lets you move normally. In fact, some studies show that it can enhance movement and endurance. Studies on athletes have shown that when kinesiology tape is used on fatigued muscles, performance improves. 

Kinesiology tape can help re-train muscles that have lost function or that have gotten used to an unhealthy way of working. 

For example, kinesiology taping can be used to correct posture in your head and neck.

Some athletes use kinesiology taping to help them achieve peak performance and protect against injury when they’re competing in special events. 

“A lot of runners use this tape every time they run a marathon.”

Although you should never use kinesiology tape on an open wound, there is some scientific evidence to suggest that kinesiology tape can improve the long-term appearance of scars after surgery or injury. This is definitely a treatment you should discuss with a doctor first.