Our articles aren’t designed to switch medical recommendation. In case you have an harm we suggest seeing a professional well being skilled. For extra data see out Phrases and Circumstances.

The concept for as we speak’s electronic mail got here from a podcast from our buddies on the Physio Community. I’d suggest having a hear, it’s a nice episode with Dr Melinda Smith.

Dr Smith discusses some latest analysis, and I wished to share that with you as a part of our latest sequence of newsletters on Plantar Heel Ache (PHP). So we’ll discover this research, implications for apply after which the larger image with taping.

Kinesiotaping versus low-dye for plantar heel ache – García-Gomariz et al. (2024)

Right here’s a graphic abstract with a quick overview of the research:

It does appear that each taping methods could assist scale back acute ache in PHP. Kinesiotaping seems to get outcomes extra quickly, however as I discussed within the graphic, the general ache discount from baseline was very barely bigger within the low-dye group. This isn’t actually talked about within the research, so it’s not clear if this may be thought-about statistically important or clinically significant.

I say could scale back ache, as and not using a management group, we will’t be sure if signs merely modified over time (as they typically do, particularly in acute displays).

I’d additionally add that there are a number of methods to tape the foot for Plantar Heel Ache, and this research solely compares two. Podiatrist Simon Bartold, founding father of Bartold Scientific, shared a video of his taping method. He’s fairly particular concerning the strategy, place of the foot and stage of help wanted. Notice how completely different that is from the method in Dr Kevin Kirby’s video. Each are consultants of their discipline and massively skilled.

I recognize these movies could also be somewhat dated now, however they do present that ‘low-dye taping’ could look very completely different within the arms of 1 clinician versus one other, so we should be cautious in generalising the outcomes of this research.

Taping isn’t with out controversy, particularly kinesiotape, which was utilized on this research. I can’t declare to be an professional in it. A short literature overview reveals an abundance of analysis with this tape getting used to deal with ache, swelling, proprioception, muscle energy and extra.

Nonetheless, whether or not it’s truly efficient in any of those roles is actually questionable. I feel many clinicians view it as a vibrant placebo, which can be why practically half of my followers that I surveyed on X say they by no means use it:

Earlier systematic evaluations, similar to Parreira et al. (2014), have urged that present proof doesn’t help using kinesio taping in medical apply. I did discover a more moderen overview, Tran et al. (2024), with extra optimistic findings, however I’m but to analyse this in any element, so I’d suggest studying it in full earlier than making any conclusions.

Scientific implications and greater image

When the intention is to scale back ache within the brief time period, tape appears a really cheap possibility to contemplate. The selection of which sort of tape will come right down to the person and what their targets and desires are. We additionally want to keep in mind that some individuals are allergic to sure tapes, so this must be checked earlier than utility.

If extra bodily help is required, then low-dye is extra prone to obtain this as a consequence of its extra inflexible nature. It doesn’t seem like as comfy or sturdy as elastic tape, although, so could also be higher suited to short-term utilization (e.g. throughout sport/ provocative exercise). Nonetheless, runners and athletes will sweat throughout sport and in my expertise, this could trigger extra inflexible tape to return off. In apply, it’s often greatest to attempt completely different choices throughout coaching to see what works and may be utilized if wanted throughout competitors.

If consolation and mobility are priorities (or inflexible tape comes off throughout sport), then elastic tape could also be preferable. If it’s nicely tolerated and particularly efficient for signs, we could counsel utilizing it for as much as 4 days or consecutive functions (e.g. each 3 or 4 days). Dr Smith mentions this in her podcast, and she or he advisable a time frame with out tape between functions (e.g. in a single day) to keep away from pores and skin irritation.

Latest greatest apply pointers (Morrissey et al. 2021) help using tape mixed with training and stretches. Koc et al. (2023) counsel tape (both inflexible or elastic) is used together with different therapies for short-term enhancements in ache and performance, and that is how I might have a tendency to make use of it in clinic.

I view tape as an non-obligatory ‘adjunct’ to our most important methods for managing operating harm, ‘The 4 pillars’ (under). These methods should be in place first as a precedence, then we will think about adjuncts which may scale back ache or enhance vary or motion high quality:

Yet another snippet on this that I wished to share comes from the Morrissey et al. (2021) greatest apply information, the place among the consultants interviewed for the paper used taping to foretell if foot orthoses could also be useful:

“If I tape them and their signs lower, after which I can say—okay, I feel I can replicate what the tape is doing with both footwear or orthoses.” Professional 13, Morrissey et al. (2021).

In conclusion, tape may be helpful as a short-term technique to scale back ache or modify load, however I’d be fascinated with long-term choices to revive capability and return folks to their chosen sport with no need to be strapped up!