Stick with Me! Talking: Kinesiotaping
Kinesiotape is a therapeutic tool utilized by rehabilitation specialists. It is a thin, elastic tape, composed of cotton, and containing a specific weave pattern. It is able to stretch approximately 60% of its original length. Kinesiotape is applied by health care professionals at specific anatomical landmarks and with varying amounts tension, and can generally be worn up to 5 days, even while swimming or bathing.
What Does it Do?
- Supports muscles and joints without restricting movement
- Improves blood flow
- Reduces Pain and inflammation
How Does it Work?
Kinesiotape is believed to help in providing sensory input from injured or inflamed tissues to help the brain move more naturally. It stimulates the receptors on the skin that give feedback on how we know where are body parts are in space without looking at them. This results in an improved sense of stability.
A good analogy is to think of a worn out pair of socks that you’ve stretched out and they fall down on their own. There’s no tension left in the socks. This is what is happening to the connective tissue that is stretched beyond its limits in an injury. If there’s no tension, there is a loss of that “awareness” of the joint, resulting in instability and poor movement. The tape works like putting on a brand new pair of socks. It improves range of motion and movement of the joint by increasing the amount of feedback and “awareness” to the brain.
As well, the tape helps reduce swelling and pain by giving the lymphatic system (which filters out waste and bacteria) extra space to flow freely.
What Conditions Is It Most Effective For?
- Patellofemoral syndrome
- Shoulder instability
- Plantar fasciitis
- Acute ankle injuries
- Knee injuries
- Low back injuries
- Neck pain
- Scapular pain
- Tendinopathies (achilles, tennis elbow, DeQuarvains etc)
As everyone’s situation is unique always consult a registered health professional to help create a management plan that’s effective and safe for you!
-K