A recent study investigated whether the application of kinesiology tape would help in runners who were experiencing medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), more commonly known as shin splints. The study involved 32 runners currently experiencing medial shin pain and divided them into two groups. Both groups were taped with kinesiology tape (KT), with one group having 75% tension applied to the tape and the other group having no tension applied to the tape. The choice of using 75% tension is interesting as it is a lot more tension than is generally recommended when applying kinesiology tape, however the authors were replicating the methodology of a 2014 study by Griebert et al. The Griebert study found that kinesiology tape altered the loading pattern through the foot of their participants that had MTSS, but did not alter the loading pattern of their asymptomatic controls.
All the participants underwent their initial assessment of the measured variables and were then randomly assigned to one of the two taping groups. After 24 hours wearing the tape, all participants were retested. The variables measured were pain via a VAS scale; postural control through standing statically on a force plate and measuring centres of pressure; and plantar pressures measured via a force plate that the participants walked across. The plantar pressures were measured in 10 different zones of the foot.
The KT-tension group had a statistically significant improvement in pain scores as well as postural control in the mediolateral direction. In the gait assessment, their plantar pressures were improved in several areas, namely the first to third metatarsal heads, the mid foot and the medial heel zones when compared with those in the no tension group. It is somewhat a pity that the authors did not include taping groups at 25% and 50% tension to see if there was any difference between differing amounts of tape tension.
The results of this study suggest that in runners with MTSS, kinesiology tape could reduce pain as well as improving postural control and redistributing some plantar pressures. The authors theorized that the improvement in gait parameters may be due to facilitation of muscle activity or potentially through improvements in proprioception due to the tactile stimulation of the tape. The authors also quite correctly point out that whilst KT applications may give some short-term relief and functional improvements, they also need to be supplemented with comprehensive rehabilitation programs. As well as being a relatively small study, one of the other limitations of this research is that the measures were taken during walking rather than running, whereas most people would typically get more symptoms from increased loads in activities such as running. Further research should perhaps look at the effects of KT with the higher forces involved with running, as well as attempting to determine the most efficacious amount of tension for the kinesiology tape application.
Saki, F., Shayesteh, A., Ramezani, F. (2024). Short-term Effects of Kinesio Taping Application on Outcomes of Athletes With Shin Splints. Physical Treatments 14(1):43-52.
Griebert, M.C., Needle, A.R., McConnell, J., & Kaminski, T.W., (2016). Lower leg kinesio tape reduces rate of loading in participants with medial tibial stress syndrome. Physical Therapy in Sport doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2014.01.001