Last week I wrote about the rise and “potential” fall of Kinesiology-type taping. Please click here if you have yet to read “Kinesiology-type Taping: A Psychological Intervention in Sport?”

Well as it turns out, this “old” taping method MAY in fact be psychological after all! But before I proceed any further, I must point out the fact that I said “old” because this taping method has actually been around for over 25 years.

So now that you have read my preceding post, you will know that I braved the snowstorm and travelled down to Calgary this past weekend to attend a SpiderTech Taping seminar. I do not hold any ties with its parent company, Nucap Medical, and therefore will try to give you as objective an opinion as possible (disclaimer: I apply these products on my patients and therefore must disclose this information)

As a health care practitioner with no prior “formal” training in this method of taping, I came away from this seminar impressed with this particular taping system. Here are 2 simple reasons why:

SpiderTech admits that it may work via psychological mechanisms.

Yes, that IS correct. While the main therapeutic effects stated are via microcirculatory, structural, and neurosensory mechanisms, SpiderTech admits that psychotherapeutic effects may also occur. That is, through an increased conscious awareness and increased perception of stability, a decreased fear of activity may subsequently result. For those of you who work with elite-level athletes, you will know that psychology plays an important role in high performance and thus, if an increased perception of joint stability results in increased confidence, then yes, SpiderTech may also enhance performance through psychological means.

SpiderTech seems to be grounded in sound, scientific principles

As a site dedicated to “evidence-informed sport health”, I strive to incorporate scientific principles as much as possible. It seems as though this company does the same. I was really impressed with the 2+ hours of scientific information presented to us before we were permitted to utilize the individual tape applications! Though research may apparently be underway to evaluate the efficacy of this taping method, the theoretical principles pertaining to its mechanisms of action via neurosensory pathways most certainly seems plausible. In fact, the certification manual’s reference list contains over 70 references from peer-reviewed literature pertaining to the information presented to us.

So is this method a psychological intervention in sport? Maybe. But in the event you are presented with multiple interventions to choose from, may I suggest you give these guys a second look.

Photo source: www.nucapmedical.com

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Over the past couple years and more recently, the last few months, there has been an exponential rise in the use of Kinesiology-type taping in the sports arena. Perhaps in large part due to the exposure given by Kerri Walsh at the Beijing Olympics, the use of this method of taping has become mainstream as a “therapeutic intervention” or “injury management” strategy for recreational and elite athletes alike. Unfortunately, with its rapid rise also comes its potential to rapidly fail!

This is not to say that I disagree or “don’t believe” in its clinical applications. Actually, far from it. In fact, I am heading off to a SpiderTech taping certification seminar this coming weekend. The problem I see is when its clinical indications and proper application become ignored in favor of mass marketing.

“The success of the Kinesio Taping Method is dependent upon two factors. One, proper evaluation of the patient’s condition to allow for application of Kinesio Tex Tape on the proper tissue. Two, proper application of the Kinesio Taping Technique”

(Kase et al. in Clinical Therapeutic Applications of the Kinesio Taping Method, 2nd ed.)

To put it bluntly, I believe some companies are shooting themselves in the foot (in the long term) by making their product available over the counter. This is not to say that these products should be regulated much like pharmaceuticals (as their side effects are likely minimal). They should simply be applied correctly and for the right reasons.

One such problem with widespread availability is the increased likelihood of self-diagnosing:

• I’ve got shin splints so I need kinesiology-type tape (ever stop to think that you might have a stress fracture?)
• I’ve got IT Band syndrome so I need kinesiology-type tape (you’re probably still training your VMO too, right?)
• Plantar Fasciitis? Gotta get some kinesiology-type tape (have you ruled out tarsal tunnel syndrome, calcaneal spur fractures, etc?)

You get my drift?

From a medical standpoint, I believe the credibility of this product may soon decline if it has yet to do so already. Simply put, if not applied properly, its beneficial effects will be minimal. And as a result, will result in negative publicity and/or an image of just being placebo.

As mentioned above, I will be attending a certification seminar this weekend so in no way , shape, or form, do I disagree in its theoretical principles. However, unless I am mistaken, definitive research is still lacking. Therefore, my professional recommendation to many of the companies manufacturing and distributing these types of products is this:

Unless your customers fully appreciate and understand its beneficial effects for Structural, Neurological, and Microcirculatory mechanisms, and unless your vision is to create a product perceived by public opinion as placebo, I suggest the application of your products be left to therapeutic professionals

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