2 Experts Weigh In on Whether KT Tape Is Really Helpful For Moms-to-Be

Kinesiology tape, more commonly known as KT tape, is widely used by athletes and fitness fans for muscle support, but recently we've seen it popping up on Instagram and Pinterest on pregnant women's bellies. When you think about it, it makes sense as a pain reliever for dealing with the lower-back pain that comes along with pregnancy, but before being fully convinced, we checked with two experts.

Dr. Hansa Bhargava, senior medical officer and WebMD's in-house pediatrician, said there have been no negative effects reported when pregnant women use KT tape for pain relief.

She went on to explain: "Kinesio taping is often used to help muscle pain. Although a lot of research has not been done, in a small study of pregnant women, it seemed to help back pain in the group that had the taping done. Also there wasn't any harm."

So now the question becomes, what is the best way to apply it to your muscles to maximize relief? Physical therapist Heather Armstrong said, "KT tape can definitely help unweight the baby" but that it can be difficult to apply on your own. Armstrong recommends using at least two pieces of tape stretched from the back and around the bump. She said you can do more beyond that, like using more in a crisscross pattern (as seen in these Instagram photos), but going under the belly is the primary support.