Kinesio tape- what exactly is it? You have seen it worn by
athletes such as Kerri Walsh, Lance Armstrong and Serena Williams -
but why? The tape was designed by Kenzo Kase, DC, who spent years
in the 1970s researching and designing a special type of tape that
could help the body's healing process. He eventually designed
kinesiolgy tape- "a flexible, latex-free tape that could be used on
a wide array of populations from pediatric to geriatric, which
would help treat a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular,
neurological and other medical conditions." The tape has been
found to have a variety of therapeutic benefits including
physiological, structural, microcirculatory and
neurosensory.
According to Kenzo Kase, the Kinesio Taping® Method is a
definitive rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to
facilitate the body's natural healing process while providing
support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the
body's range of motion. Kinesio Tape is different than
standard athletic taping, which is typically used to restrict
movement of a specific joint. The kinesiology tape is meant
to be utilized to support and stabilize the joints without
restricting movement. The kinesiology tape can also be worn
for several days, typically 2 to 5, whereas the standard tape is
usually only worn during practice or sporting events.
In order for the tape to be properly used an evaluation and
assessment must be performed. Once the assessment has been
performed the tape may be applied to the specific target
area. The tape is applied and pulled to different degrees of
tension depending on the desired effect and result. The tape
has been proven to have positive physiological effects on the skin,
lymphatic system, circulatory system, fascia, muscles, ligaments,
tendons and joints. Physical therapists and other healthcare
professionals use the kinesiology tape as a preventative or adjunct
to other treatments. Please feel free to ask one of the
therapists at Sports Physical Therapy Institute trained in kinesio
taping if this method is right for you!
References:
Taking a look at Kinesiology Taping- Advance for Physical
therapy and Rehab Medicine www.advaceweb.com/PT
www.Kinesiotaping.com