PROJECT K.T.A.P.E.: Kinesiology Tape for Athlete Performance

Abstract

Kinesiology Tape (KT) is used to prevent or rehabilitate sports injuries, as well as to enhance an athlete’s performance. The primary aim of this study was to examine differences between athletes who use KT and athletes who do not use KT using an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) framework that included autonomous and controlled motivation for KT use. The secondary aims of this study were to (a) determine if KT is prevalent among competitive/recreational athletes, and (b) identify the reasons why athletes report using KT. Data was collected from a purposive sample of competitive/recreational athletes, using non-experimental (cross-sectional) design. Participants (n = 127) completed a questionnaire modified to fit the aims of this study using a secure online interface (www.surveymonkey.com). Multivariate Analyses of Variance indicated that athletes who used KT in the past 12 months reported higher subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, attitudes, intentions and autonomous motives, than athletes who did not use KT. Approximately half of the sample (49.6%) reported using KT in the past 12 months, and ‘rehabilitation’ was the main reason KT was used. Overall, the results of this study suggest a greater understanding of the psychological variables that may influence an athlete to use KT in sport. The results of this study support the use of the extended TPB in the context of understanding an athletes KT behaviours.