The Paris Olympic Games will open on July 26, 2024, local time in France. There is much to look forward to, including the incredible athleticism of the athletes, and a great deal of admiration for the city of Paris, which will see an influx of athletes and fans during this period.

From the 2016 and 2021 Olympic Games, we will also see some striped colored tapes on the bodies of athletes. In particular, this tape is called kinesiology tape, more commonly known as kinesiology tape. The name is kinesiotape. But what exactly is it?

Why is it stuck on the body?

There are several different versions of this tape, and in 2016 and 2021, athletes were often wearing Kinesio-Tex Taping, which was developed by Japanese masseurs in 1979. KT Tie is currently the official sports brand of Team USA.

Kinesio Taping's official website states: It relieves discomfort and promotes lymphatic drainage. It is applied to muscles to reduce pain and inflammation, overly relaxed or fatigued muscles, and to support muscle activity.

According to the official website of KT Patch, the performance patch can "provide a lightweight external support to help keep your muscles relaxed and promote recovery from sports injuries. KT Patch causes neuromuscular feedback (called proprioception) to inhibit (relax) or facilitate Strengthens muscles and tendons." The site also offers a number of different options for performance patches, from head to sore muscles.

Does it really work?

It's hard to say, most studies have not found a significant benefit from using Kinesio Taping. Several studies analyzing the clinical use of Kinesio Taping in people with musculoskeletal conditions found no evidence that it helped patients relieve their conditions. So for patients with chronic diseases who need treatment (not Olympic athletes), it may not be useful for them.

However, a recent study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that "kinesio tape can effectively relieve pain." Other studies have found that performance patches may potentially increase range of motion, but there is insufficient evidence on how different brands of performance patches differ. Therefore, this kind of kinesio tape KT tape can potentially affect pain or range of motion, but the impact is not significant.

Most athletes seem to love this stuff. In addition to Olympic athletes, the likes of Lance Armstrong and David Beckham have also used performance patches throughout their careers, which seems logical, even if there are no results.

If it turns out there really is some mild pain relief or range of motion enhancement, it's easy to see why this would be important to Olympic athletes. The race is a matter of seconds, and a 0.5% gap may make you miss the podium.

Even if wearing a performance patch has no effect, it is still worth wearing if the athlete thinks it can help them.

Steve, a professor of human applied physiology, said: "Athletes wearing this kind of tape has a psychological effect. The psychological advantages and confidence are what any athlete must have."

Finally, I wish you success in the Paris Olympics, and cheers for the Chinese Olympic athletes!