Tapping (EFT) for Athletic Performance: evidence summary

A one-page overview of the peer-reviewed research, prepared for discussion with a healthcare provider. The Tapping Evidence Base · July 2026

8studies
4randomized trials
1meta-analyses/reviews
80participants

Selected strongest studies

StudyDesignJournalEffect
Boath, E., Stewart, A. et al. (2012)
A search identified 42 published EFT studies, of which 7 RCTs met inclusion criteria; EFT was shown effective for PTSD…
 Systematic review, 7 studies Staffordshire University, CPSI Monograph
Church, D. (2009)
26 college basketball players received either a 15-minute EFT session or a placebo intervention before a simulated game scenario…
 Randomized trial, N=26 The Open Sports Sciences Journal
Dwivedi, S., Sekhon, A. et al. (2021)
Post-intervention analysis indicated significant improvements in HR (-4.
 Randomized trial, N=14 International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Llewellyn-Edwards, T., Llewellyn-Edwards, M. (2012)
A randomized controlled trial (with a supporting uncontrolled trial) of a short EFT session with two English ladies soccer teams…
 Randomized trial Fidelity: Journal for the National Council of Psychotherapy
Mollazadeh, M., Gharayagh Zandi, H. et al. (2025)
After ten EFT sessions, the intervention group showed reductions in cognitive and somatic competitive anxiety and salivary…
 Controlled trial, N=29 Sports Medicine: Research and Practice Cohen's d = -0.84
What Tapping (EFT) is. A brief self-administered technique combining exposure and cognitive elements with fingertip stimulation of acupressure points. It is used as a self-help and adjunctive practice for stress and emotional regulation. Effect sizes above are reported as each study gives them: randomized and controlled trials give tapping versus a comparison group, while meta-analyses give pooled estimates — between-group versus control, or within-group pre-post where the row is labelled that way. For standardized effects (d, g), ≥ 0.8 is considered large; a Mean Difference is on the symptom scale's own units, not standardized. Limitations across this literature include variable use of active vs. waitlist controls and reliance on self-report measures. This summary is informational and not a substitute for clinical judgment.