Evidence-Based Taping Applications in Sports and Exercise Rehabilitation: Material Properties, Mechanisms of Action, and Condition-Specific Strategies

Background/Objectives: Taping is widely used as an adjunctive intervention in musculoskeletal and neurological rehabilitation due to its low cost, noninvasive nature, and clinical versatility. However, reported clinical effects remain inconsistent across studies, largely because of the heterogeneity in tape material properties, structural characteristics, application parameters, and clinical contexts. This structured narrative review aimed to synthesize the current evidence on the material composition, structural characteristics, mechanisms of action, and condition-specific application strategies of therapeutic taping in rehabilitation. Methods: A structured narrative review of the literature published between January 2000 and March 2025 was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Peer-reviewed studies involving human participants were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria and screened through title/abstract and full-text review. Evidence was prioritized according to study design, with greater emphasis placed on randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Studies investigating the effects of elastic taping, non-elastic taping, and specialized techniques (e.g., diamond taping and Mulligan taping) on pain, neuromuscular function, proprioception, balance, circulation, and functional outcomes were included. Evidence was synthesized according to taping type, material characteristics, and clinical context. Results: Non-elastic taping demonstrated greater effectiveness in providing mechanical stabilization and load redistribution in acute injuries and mechanically driven joint instability. In contrast, elastic taping showed more consistent relevance in chronic musculoskeletal conditions and neurological rehabilitation, primarily through proprioceptive facilitation and neuromuscular modulation. Across studies, clinical outcomes varied substantially according to tape width, elasticity, material composition, and application tension, highlighting the influence of tape-related factors on therapeutic effects. Overall, the observed effects were predominantly short-term and condition-specific, with considerable heterogeneity across studies. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that taping may be most appropriately used as an adjunctive intervention rather than a stand-alone treatment, particularly when combined with exercise therapy or other rehabilitation approaches. Individualized, goal-directed application that considers material properties and dose–response characteristics may be more appropriate than uniform taping protocols. However, the overall strength of the evidence remains variable, and further research with standardized protocols, longer follow-up periods, and mechanistic investigation is required to strengthen evidence-based clinical application.