How Clinicians Are Using Kinesiology Tape in Real-World Practice: Insights From a Large U.S. Survey.
Kinesiology tape has become a familiar part of modern rehabilitation, sports performance, and pain management. Yet despite its widespread use, there are still questions among clinicians about how others in the field apply it, why they choose it, and what value they believe it brings to patient care. A large descriptive survey published in 2021 offers useful clarity on these questions by capturing the taping habits and beliefs of healthcare professionals across the United States.
The study surveyed more than 1,000 clinicians, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers, and other movement-focused practitioners. Its goal was not to test the effectiveness of taping, but to understand real-world clinical practice and opinions—the motivations behind taping, the perceived benefits, and the decision-making processes that guide its use.
Key Findings From the Survey
The results highlight several themes:
1. Post-injury treatment is the most common reason for taping.
Approximately 74% of practitioners reported using kinesiology tape primarily in post-injury situations. This aligns with the common clinical aim of supporting comfortable movement early in rehabilitation, when sensitivity and guarding may limit a patient’s ability to load tissues appropriately.
2. Tape is widely used for pain modulation.
Around 67% of respondents reported applying tape to help reduce pain. Many clinicians noted that taping can facilitate movement by decreasing perceived threat, assisting patients who may otherwise struggle to tolerate early or transitional stages of rehab.
3. Neurological feedback and proprioceptive input are major drivers.
Roughly 60% of clinicians use taping for sensory feedback. This reflects a growing understanding that the benefits of taping are not solely mechanical. Many practitioners view kinesiology tape as a tool for enhancing body awareness, improving coordination, or cueing postural and movement strategies.
4. Brand preference matters—and RockTape is widely chosen.
Just over 50% of clinicians in the survey reported using RockTape specifically. Factors such as adhesive durability, elasticity, feel on the skin, and reliability during sport or high-demand activity were frequently cited as reasons for brand selection.
What This Means for Clinical Practice
While this survey does not measure clinical outcomes directly, its value lies in describing everyday practice. It shows that clinicians across professions use kinesiology tape as an adjunct to active rehabilitation, not as a standalone intervention. Tape is often leveraged to support comfortable movement, reduce sensitivity, or provide sensory input that helps patients engage more effectively in exercise-based care.
For clinicians already using RockTape, the findings reinforce that they are part of a large professional community that integrates taping into evidence-informed, movement-based rehabilitation.
Reference
Morris, D., Jones, D., Ryan, H., & Ryan, C. (2021). Kinesiology Tape: A Descriptive Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the United States. Journal of Sports Rehabilitation, 30(6), 887–895. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2020-0211