A Scoping Review on the Effects of Kinesio Taping on Oropharyngeal Function Related to Swallowing and Feeding
Dysphagia
Gholami, Z., Poorjavad, M., et al. (2025).
Dysphagia, 40(2), 311-326.
<div>This scoping review investigates the effects of Kinesio taping on outcomes for adults and children with feeding and swallowing disorders.</div>
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (Iran)
From database inception to November 2022
<div>Original research studies</div>
21
<div>Eleven studies investigated the effects of Kinesio taping on drooling outcomes for children with cerebral palsy or non-degenerative neurological conditions. All studies showed significant pre-/post-treatment improvement in drooling frequency and severity, though there were no differences between groups. Findings were mixed regarding Kinesio taping alone versus combined with oral-motor training.</div>
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<div>Limitations to this review included lack of masking of therapists delivering treatments and assessors evaluating outcomes across studies.</div>
<div>Two studies investigated the effects of Kinesio taping on oral feeding in premature NICU infants. One study showed promising results but the other did not support the use of Kinesio tape in combination with oral stimulation as compared to oral stimulation alone.</div>
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<div>Limitations to this review included lack of masking of therapists delivering treatments and assessors evaluating outcomes across studies.</div>
<div>For individuals with post-stroke dysphagia, exercise-based swallowing therapy that incorporated kinesiology tape demonstrated:</div>
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<ul>
<li>significant increases in suprahyoid and tongue muscle thickness, likely as a result of restricted hyolaryngeal movement;</li>
<li>increased hyoid excursion and epiglottic inversion; and</li>
<li>improved swallowing function as much as neuromuscular stimulation, with long-term maintenance of gains.</li>
</ul>
<div>Limitations to these findings include a small number of available studies, reduced methodological rigor of included studies, heterogeneity across studies, and small sample sizes. </div>
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<div>One study of children with cerebral palsy showed that Kinesio taping combined with conventional therapies such as sensory stimulation, positioning, and diet modification can improve feeding skills. Limitations to this review included lack of masking of therapists delivering treatments and assessors evaluating outcomes across studies.</div>
