REF-1707 · Mitchell et al., 2026 · Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, · Paper · PubMed

Kinesiology tape for front-of-knee (patellofemoral) pain eased pain right after it was put on, but not detectably more than the control condition: in a meta-analysis of 5 randomised trials (120 taped, 105 control participants), pain fell from before to immediately after taping (Cohen's d −1.18, 95% CI −1.89 to −0.48; I² 81.1%) while the control groups' change did not reach significance (d −0.71, −1.48 to 0.07; p = 0.07), and the test of a difference between the two was not significant (p = 0.38); only immediate effects were studied

Main caveat: Design of the analysis: within-group pre-post changes were pooled and compared by a subgroup test, which is weaker than pooling the randomised between-group…
moderate evidenceMeasured on non-athletes and recreational peopleRead from the abstract only

Mitchell and colleagues set out to pool randomised trials of kinesiology tape for pain in patellofemoral pain syndrome.

They searched five databases to March 2024 and kept only trials that rated pain intensity just before and immediately after the tape was applied; two trials with later follow-up and three without usable pre-post pain data were excluded, leaving 5 trials with 120 people in tape groups and 105 in control groups.

Pain fell from before to after taping in the tape groups (d −1.18), with substantial heterogeneity; in the control groups the fall (d −0.71) did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.07); and a subgroup test found no significant difference between the tape and control groups (p = 0.38).

The authors conclude that tape gave a significant benefit and may acutely reduce pain perception, attribute the non-significant between-group difference to the high heterogeneity, and call for further, better-conducted trials.

Our reading: the trials' randomised comparison, tape against control, was not significant, so the abstract shows a pre-post drop in pain after taping, not that tape beats the control condition.

Participants

5 randomised trials: 120 participants in kinesiology-tape groups, 105 in control groups.
People with patellofemoral pain syndrome; age, sex, activity level, sport, symptom duration and diagnostic criteria are not in the abstract.

Protocol

Search: PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Embase and Web of Science, any date to March 2024; terms for patellofemoral pain (including "runner's knee" and anterior knee pain syndrome) and kinesiology or elastic therapeutic tape; study selection in Rayyan by two of six authors, a third author settling disagreements.
Inclusion: RCTs reporting pain intensity before and immediately after tape application; excluded trials with delayed follow-up only or without pre-post pain means.
Analysis: random-effects meta-analysis of pre-post change as Cohen's d, separately for tape and control groups; subgroup test between them; I² for heterogeneity; GRADE named in the objectives.
Not in the abstract: the control conditions, taping techniques, pain scales, risk-of-bias or GRADE results, and funding.

Key Results

GroupStudiesnPre-post change in pain, Cohen's d (95% CI)pI²
Kinesiology tape5120−1.18 (−1.89 to −0.48)≤ 0.00181.1%
Control5105−0.71 (−1.48 to 0.07)0.0779.0%
Tape vs control (subgroup test)——difference not significant0.38—
Negative d = less pain after than before.
The abstract gives no pooled between-group effect size or interval.

Practical Application

Kinesiology tape is not shown to relieve front-of-knee pain better than the control condition. Pain dropped in the minutes after taping (d −1.18), but the control groups also improved by a non-significant amount and the difference between tape and control was not significant (p = 0.38), across 5 small trials with high heterogeneity; nothing beyond the first minutes was studied.
Consistent with [SYNTH-94]'s front-of-knee row, which already lists taping only as an add-on by need, graded low, behind knee-targeted exercise and education ([REF-1381]). SYNTH-94's title named taping among the first measures for front-of-knee and heel pain until 2026-11-10 and now keeps it first only for heel pain; for the knee, this analysis gives no support for tape over control, so tape stays optional there rather than first.It does not change the exercise-first default.
Inference, not tested here: if a runner finds tape makes a session more comfortable, it can stay (harms are not reported in the abstract) as a comfort measure alongside the clinician's exercise programme; it is not a treatment on its own.
Not treatment advice: knee pain that persists, swells, locks or gives way goes to a physiotherapist or physician, who decides on taping and treatment (SYNTH-94).

Limitations

Design of the analysis: within-group pre-post changes were pooled and compared by a subgroup test, which is weaker than pooling the randomised between-group difference; the between-group test was not significant.
Immediate effects only: trials with delayed follow-up were excluded, so nothing is known about pain over days, during running or on function.
Few, heterogeneous trials: 5 trials, 225 participants, I² 79-81%.
Not in the abstract: the control conditions (sham tape, no tape or other), taping methods, pain scales, participant characteristics, risk-of-bias and GRADE results, and funding or conflicts.
Written from the abstract and the PubMed record; full text not read.
Revision 2026-11-10 (decision): the line on SYNTH-94's title follows the guide — taping is now among the first measures only for heel pain.
How this entry was checked and changed
Why this level

a meta-analysis of randomised trials, risk of bias not read (abstract only): the abstract names GRADE but reports no rating or risk-of-bias finding; in addition the analysis pools within-group change rather than the difference between randomised groups, heterogeneity is high (I² 79-81%) and only 5 trials are included