Kinesio Taping Use for the Prevention and Treatment of Sports Injuries in Athletes

Abstract

"Kinesio taping (KT) is a simple, cost-effective, affordable and safe rehabilitation method that is currently used for enabling natural healing, as it ensures local support and stability, and corrects joint position, helping athletes to quickly recover after minor or even major injuries, and to increase their athletic performance. KT helps weakened muscles, improves local blood and lymph flow, reduces pain, removes the abnormal tension accumulated at the muscle level, alleviates muscle fatigue associated to exercising and decreases the exercise-related disruption of dynamic balance. All these effects contribute to the post-injury recovery of athletes. KT is frequently used in the acute postoperative recovery after the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, in conjunction with the rehabilitation program, as it reduces edema and pain, and increases the range and force of movement. Another frequent use of KT is in patellar tendinopathy and in reducing the risk of injury as a result of balance impairment produced by muscle fatigue. The effect of KT on the range of joint motion remains unclear, and its use is still controversial, as there are many trials that do not show any beneficial effects thereof, especially in terms of effects on muscle strength and activity, and of tendon flexibility. Keywords: kinesio taping, rehabilitation, athletes, recovery, sport performance."