Kinesiotape and Achilles Tendinopathy

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The Effect of Kinesiotape on Function, Pain, and Motoneuronal Excitability in Healthy People and People With Achilles Tendinopathy

Researchers studied the effect of kinesiotape on hop distance, pain, and motoneuronal excitability in healthy people and people with Achilles tendinopathy (AT). Twenty-six healthy people and 29 people with AT were recruited. Seven participants were lost after functional testing, leaving 24 participants in each group. The single-leg hop test and visual analog scale were measured with and without the tape. Using the Hoffman (H) reflex, change in motoneuronal excitability of calf muscles was measured before tape application, with the tape on and after its removal.

There were no changes to hop distance when tape was applied. Additionally, there were no changes to pain. The H reflex amplitude of soleus and gastrocnemius increased in the healthy group after its removal, whereas the H reflex remained unchanged in people with AT.

The researchers concluded that the results do not support the use of kinesiotape for AT.

From the article of the same title
Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine (11/01/10) Vol. 20, No. 6, P. 416 Firth, Bridget L.; Dingley, Paul; Davies, Elizabeth R.; et al.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastic_therapeutic_tape

 

I've used this tape and it is beneficial short-term for acute muscle strain, overuse etc but I can't see it helping much with the tendonopathy. I could be wrong.

 

I recently attended the UKSEM conference in London and attended a short presentation/seminar from a guy from Germany who presented 'K-Taping' - sold in the UK via Sissel:

http://www.sisseluk.com/cat/uk/en/c-k-taping/cat.php

Curious to note that you can change the tension in the tape to assist different tissues in the body; their website describes a "Ligament technique - used to support injured ligaments and tendons, reducing pressure and pain". Of course ligament and tendon react the same?!

The seminar leader changed the tape tension from 10% to 90%; so pulling the tape ends apart prior to application with a 90% stretch was the ligament technique.

Anectdotal evidence from attendees for a variety of uses was strong, but a strong sense of questioning arose also.