Have you seen pictures or video of professional athletes wearing colorful tape with interesting designs on their bodies? Rest assured it is not a new fashion statement, they are wearing Kinesio Tape.
Kinesio Tape may seem like a new invention or current trend but in fact it has been used for 25 years. Dr. Kenzo Kase created a therapeutic tape and taping technique that supports joints and muscles, without restricting range of motion. Today Kinesio Tape is being used in doctor’s offices, hospitals and athletic training facilities worldwide.
Who is using Kinesio Tape?
Kinesio Tape is used in treatment for people who experience various ailments from head to toe. These ailments include but not limited to headaches, whiplash, edema, joint pain (ex. back, neck, elbow, shoulder, knee, ankle, foot), soft tissue pain (ex. muscle, tendon, ligament), plantar fasciitis, and is also often used for injury prevention.
What does Kinesio Tape do?
Kinesio Tape has many different functions: improves range of motion, improves stability and biomechanics, achieves joint alignment, improves circulation of blood and lymph, reduces inflammation, and decreases pain and decreases edema.
How does it work?
- Kinesio Tape ‘lifts’ the epidermis (outer layers of skin), creating more space between the dermis (middle layer of skin) and the muscle. The space created relieves pressure on the lymph channels in the area between the muscle and the dermis, thus decreasing lymph congestion (edema, swelling). The space created also relieves pressure on nerves that may be compressed due to inflammation as a result of an injury.
- Kinesio Tape acts on the neurosensory system by stimulating skin receptors during movement. When these receptors are stimulated the descending inhibitory system is activated and pain decreases.
- Kinesio Tape has elastic properties that support and enhance normal function of muscle fibers and tendons.
- Kinesio Tape improves structural alignment through its affect on muscle layers and pain therefore enhancing correct posture.
Here at Natural Medicine and Rehabilitation we have Certified Kinesio Tape Practitioners who are proficient at advanced taping techniques.
Contact our office to make an appointment for a complimentary half hour consultation with Dr. Sferra.
During the consultation you can learn how Kinesio Tape or one of our other medical and wellness services can improve your quality of life. NMR provides natural based healthcare that incorporates key aspects of traditional and complimentary medicine that are fundamental to true long-term health.
Dr. Sferra is the Director of Physical Rehabilitation at Natural Medicine & Rehabilitation. He is Board Certified in Chiropractic Medicine with over 25 years of experience. He is also a Certified Clinical Nutritionist and holds certification by the National Strength & Conditioning Association.
Written by Sean Shoemaker RN, LMT at Natural Medicine and Rehabilitation. Better Health. Better Life.
References:
What is Kinesio Taping? (2011) Authentic Kinesio. Retrieved from http://www.kinesiotaping.co.nz/nzabout.html
Jason Goo (2009) Kinesio Taping Method andKinesioTexTape. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/kinesio_tape/page2.htm
Kinesio Taping Concepts. (2003). Kinesio Taping Association. Retrieved from http://www.kinesiotape.ca/kinesioconcepts.htm
