Kinesiology Tape: What is it and how can it help?

Kinesiology taping or 'K tape' was made famous during the 1980's after being seen worn by athletes participating in the Seoul Olympics. It has stood the test of time and maintained its reputation to be a helpful tool used by clinicians of all kinds, worldwide. Patients are often curious about the benefits of kinesiology taping and if it can be a potential help. Kinesiology tape can be used in a number of different ways that we will be discussing.

Kinesiology Taping's Effect on Circulation 

• Kinesiology tape is different than the old school white rigid tape in the way it is designed to stretch so that it doesn't compromise motion, but will still offer support. When kinesiology tape is used to improve circulation, it's at these areas where the tape will have a recoil effect, lifting up the skin and fascia at a microscopic level. This will relieve tension in the system and allow the blood and lymphatic vasculature to flow easier. Your body's inflammatory response is the way it heals itself by receiving nutrients, oxygen and healing factors to the damaged area via the blood and lymphatic system. This is an extremely important concept in healing acute and chronic injuries that get inflamed. By the tape lifting up the affected area, it will promote good circulation, in turn getting more nutrients to the area of need, promoting a quicker recovery.

Kinesiology Taping's Effect on Pain Reduction 

• An analogy that helps explain how kinesiology tape reduces pain is the natural reaction when someone stubs their toe. The first thing most people do after stubbing their toe is they rub it. The reason this works is because the touch sensation, over shadows the pain sensation that is traveling to the brain. The same thing is happening when using kinesiology tape over a painful area. Patients will often feel an immediate decrease in pain once the tape is applied.

Kinesiology Tape can be Used to Optimize Performance

• The kinesiology tape may also be used in a fashion that gives extra strength to muscles or joints. 'K tape' can do this by being applied in line with the muscle or joint, almost acting like a facilitating extra muscle. There has also been supporting research showing that kinesiology tape when applied to fatigued or inhibited muscles, can help improve performance. Providers are also often trained to evaluate common movement patterns looking for discrepancies. When a faulty movement pattern is discovered, tape can be applied in a way that helps correct the movement pattern. 

Kinesiology tape has been a staple for athletes for over 5 decades. Kinesiology tape isn't simply slapping some tape on an area, clinicians who are trained in the application of the tape know how to use it to maximize what the tape is intended to do. kinesiology tape has great research backing it's validity as well as a number of functions that patients can benefit from including,

1. improved Circulation
2. Reduced Edema
3. Pain Reduction
4. Performance/ Movement Facilitation.                  

         If you are curious if kinesiology tape can help you, consult our providers, we are certified kinesiology taping practitioners (CKTP) through RockTape, and would be happy to help!                                                                                                           

Call us: 406-551-2177

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