Kinesio Tape Method
If you have watched any of the recent Olympic games, you have seen the athletes sporting a colorful pattern of tape on their shoulders, knees, backs, thighs and anywhere else they may have an injury. This is Kinesio Tape and it is becoming a very popular way to treat all kinds of injuries. Kinesio Taping is a time tested, therapeutic taping method using a uniquely designed elastic tape. It’s a modality that enhances the function of many different tissues and physiologic systems that can be applied and worn for extended periods with continued therapeutic benefit between clinical visits. Many patients experience immediate benefits from application of Kinesio Tape, such as pain reduction, increased range of motion and increased stability of a joint. Of course, we also perform several other taping techniques and would create an individualized tape application which is customized to you.
Kinesio Tape can help with many different diagnoses including:
AC joint pain
Achilles Tendonitis
Brachial Plexus Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Postural Pain
Elbow Bursitis
Headaches
Patella Tendonitis
Shin Splints
Lymphedema
Back Pain
Swelling due to recent injury
MANY MORE!
Kinesio Tape is constructed of 100% cotton and elastic fibers. Tape is applied to substrate paper with 10% stretch, and the tape’s elasticity is 40-60% of its resting length (depending on tape width). Kinesio Tape’s thickness and weight are similar to skin and the adhesive is 100% medical grade, acrylic, and heat-activated. There is no medicine in the tape itself and it is latex free.
Kinesio Tape comes in a variety of colors with beige being the first one introduced. Red (pink) and blue were developed for color therapy, while black was developed for athletes in particular. White is preferred by hospital and medical industries. Despite the different colors they are all manufactured with identical properties. Kinesio Tape allows for normal ROM and can be worn for 3-5 days with good skin tolerance.
Major Physiological systems affected by Kinesio Tape include:
Skin
Fascia
Circulatory/Lymphatic systems
Muscle
Joint
Removal
There are different ways to remove Kinesio Tape from the body. The first method is the pressure method. You pull the edge of tape away from the skin; place your index finger against the tape with downward/inward pressure. Pull tape up and away with moderate to high tension while maintaining index finger pressure as tape is removed. The other method is called “skin from tape method”. Pull the skin back from the tape, during this the tape may be removed while bathing. Soap, hand lotion of oil may be applied to the tape to break the adhesive bonds comfortably.