08/13/12 3:25 pm
Regardless of who is right, it works. If the athletes believe it works then it does. They are the ones competing and if they say so it must be true... Also if you convince them that it doesn't work, then it won't. It's a placebo!
cairo2 UVM
08/13/12 10:37 am
Usually I would say researchers, because I am slightly skeptical about the physical effectiveness of it. But there could very well be a placebo effect here, that they play better because they think that it helps.
adalla Virginia
08/12/12 2:52 pm
All these ppl who didn't believe a gambler could have a "hot streak" think placebo tape actually helps athletes. Which is it?
gcox Texas
08/11/12 8:10 pm
Used it myself after physical therapy. It was excellent at taking pressure off the affected shoulder joint for a couple of days without affecting my range of motion.
jstan New Jersey
08/11/12 4:20 pm
The placebo effect is much more powerful than "researchers", which probably refers to bored college kids, give it credit for. If someone is convinced that it works...it probably does. Just read the power of positive thinking; people create their own realities.
08/11/12 10:22 am
The athletes are correct that it helps, however, it helps because it is a placebo.
sicsanct
08/11/12 12:11 am
Being an athlete, I can say from the inside that most of my piers think that whatever the newest trend is helps them so much. It's almost always psychosomatic.
prterri
08/10/12 8:03 pm
Many athletes use some form of tape for support. I used to tape my ankles when I played and it helped. Taping my shins when I had shin splints worked too. Sometimes 'researchers' have no idea what they're talking about.
besmart
08/10/12 6:31 pm
If the athletes believe it helps, who am I to argue? It might just be psychological, but it could still help.
taximom Boise
08/10/12 12:17 pm
Athletes tend to be very superstitious. However, due to the interconnection between mental and physical, if they think it helps, it does due to psycchological influence on physical performance, which is a powerful component!
mep
08/10/12 4:41 am
Also Harvard could not be more wrong. Everything made is not due to research, unless you mean market research that shows what can make money. You think research went into those silly hologram powerband rubber bracelets? Please, it's trickery and woo at the highest level.
mep
08/10/12 4:39 am
Kate is right, placebo effect is well documented. Which means it can be controlled for in studies, which still show little to no evidence of functionality. If it's a placebo, it doesn't mean it works. It means it's a placebo. Two different things. And athletes are notoriously superstitious.
lou1 Washington
08/09/12 11:33 pm
I thought it was the dumbest idea ever, totally didn't expect it to work... And then I was taped. I'm now a believer. (not anywhere near olympic athlete, but you don't have to be perfect to benefit...)
08/09/12 11:24 pm
I believe in it and I believe other reputable athletes who believe in it too.
08/09/12 11:24 pm
Regardless of what the research says, the mind is a powerful thing. If the people who use them thinks it's going to help, well, the placebo effect is well documented
08/09/12 11:20 pm
I am amazed by the results. Most people don't realize that everything made is thanks to research not some athlete who said hey I feel good wearing this so should you. Thats ridiculous.
pretorian Florida
08/09/12 11:12 pm
I've just read up on it : if kinesio tape helps to encourage or impede certain movements it may contribute to reinforce correct movements and train muscles the way ankle weights do.
The data isn't convincing but I give it the benefit of doubt.
Sporter80 Oklahoma
08/09/12 10:06 pm
Even if it's all psychological, if they feel it helps boost their confidence in their performance or physically help them, I agree with the athletes.
Perot4Prez
08/09/12 9:56 pm
If you think it is because of the placebo effect, then you believe the researchers.
The athletes think it is working... for real! it could be blue painters tape for all they know. After all, it is on their back... They can't see it.
That is a test I would like to see.
isusd5
08/09/12 9:18 pm
I've used that tape when I had a muscle injury. It really does work. I had my doubts but it did.
schismpunk Washington
08/09/12 9:17 pm
Placebo or not, if there's no improvement, there's no improvement. If the times are the same with and without the tape, there's no benefit, right? Why are we discussing placebo? Researchers are too stupid to think of accounting for it? Come on people...
schismpunk Washington
08/09/12 9:17 pm
Placebo or not, if there's no improvement, there's no improvement. If the times are the same with and without the tape, there's no benefit, right? Why are we discussing placebo? Researchers are too stupid to think of accounting for it? Come on people...
08/09/12 8:42 pm
Even if it's just the placebo effect it's still helping their performance
08/09/12 8:34 pm
Placebo -- but only for athletes dumb enough to think it works!
Xena
08/09/12 7:51 pm
At the risk of being repetitive, I'll echo all who mentioned the placebo effect. Even if a physical benefit can't be proven unequivocally, the psychological benefit may be just what the athletes need.
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