Kinesiotaping
Kinesiotaping
Movement Enhancement, Pain Relief, Edema Reduction, and Increased Postural Awareness
What is Kinesiotape?
Kinesiotape (KT) is an elastic, self-adhesive tape used in kinesiotaping. Unlike conventional sports taping that restricts movement, Kinesiotape allows full movement of the taped area. Through it’s elastic properties and quick recoil, KT can help distribute forces to other nearby areas through the fascia, ligaments, and bones. At Synergy Health and Wellness, we utilize KT that is made of cotton, nylon, and an adhesive similar to the adhesive found in band-aids. We use latex-free kinesiotape, which greatly reduces the possibility of an allergic reaction. You have likely seen kinesiotape in many different colors, logos, and designs. Generally speaking, differences of color and design are aesthetic only and do not correlate to the quality of the kinesiotape. The only differences we have seen over our years of using different types of kinesiotape are in their adhesiveness and degree of elasticity. It is the knowledge of our therapists when applying kinesiotape that makes it a unique therapeutic tool.
How Can Kinesiotaping Help Me?
Kinesiotaping is a technique that helps in promoting proper posture and form, reducing inflammation and swelling, and to minimize pain. Kinesiotape can be applied in hundreds of shapes and a variety of patterns to achieve the goals set forth by you and your therapist. If you watch sports, you’ve surely noticed athletes with teal blue “X” strips, red “Y” strips, black “I” strips, and other more complicated patterns. It can be worn for 5-7 days and you can shower and swim in the pool without worry that the tape will come off.
Kinesiotape can be applied to facilitate lymphatic drainage. It lifts the skin and increases the interstitial space, which encourages a more effective flow of blood and lymphatic fluid in and out of the treatment area. This is very helpful in eliminating bruising after suffering a fall, surgery, or local trauma.
Kinesiotape is also beneficial for postural training. Through the inhibition of over-active muscles and facilitating activation of weaker muscles, increased postural awareness and correction can be achieved. This is very useful in the management of neck and lower back pain. In an age when many people spend long hours working on a computer or looking down at their Iphone, correctly applied kinesiotape provides cuing to correct our forward head and neck, rounded shoulders, and slumped posture.
Kinesiotape can reduce physical stress on injured joints and muscles. We have found treatment that utilizes kinesiotape is beneficial for rotator cuff pathologies, plantar fasciitis, knee pains, and tendonitis. Research has shown that kinesiotaping on skin can attenuate muscle fatigue. In rehab, this is very important, not only for parts of your body that are currently hurting, but also for the surrounding areas as they help to pick up the slack for muscles that are not currently working well.
You Can Learn to Apply Kinesiotape Yourself
So you discovered the benefits of kinesiotaping in managing your condition and you want to learn to do it yourself. Learning how to apply kinesiotape to a specific body part is well within your abilities. Our Doctors of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapists can teach you how to apply kinesiotape on your own. We also have rolls of kinesiotape available for purchase for only $16. A roll will last for 10-20 applications or about one to two months, depending on the frequency and length of applications and the number of strips used per application.