Elastic therapeutic tape, also called kinesiology tape, k-tape or Kinesio taping is a rehabilitative technique used to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while providing support and stability to joints and muscles without limiting the range of motion of the body. This method is felt to cause physiological effects on several body systems. Tapping is usually used by physical therapists to change muscle tone, move lymphatic fluids, correct movement patterns, and improve posture.
The process involves placing strips of special tape on one’s body in specific directions to help improve mobility and support joints, muscles, and tendons. When the Kinesio tape is applied to the affected area, it recoils slightly, gently lifting the skin. It is believed that this helps to create a microscopic space between your skin and the tissue underneath.
The aim of Kinesio taping is to enhance the circulation of blood at the affected areas, thereby improving the recovery time of an injury and reducing pain. Kinesio tape works on the science of kinesiology, which is a fundamental segment of physical therapy. The taping creates a pulling action that helps to hold problematic joints and muscles in place as you go about your daily routine, including engagement in any level of physical activity.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF APPLICATION
Kinesio tape can be applied in various shapes like ‘I’, ‘X’, ‘Y’, ‘Fan’, ‘Web’ or ‘Donut’. The shape selection depends on the size of the affected area as well as the result you are trying to achieve.
‘Y’ tape application is used to surround the target muscles or facilitate the muscle stimuli.
‘I’ tape application is generally used for acute injuries or alignment correction.
‘X’ tape application is generally used when the origin and insertion of the target muscle change depending on movement.
‘Fan/Web’ tape application is generally used for oedema (web is different because the ends remain intact).
‘Donut’ is generally used for oedema (use overlapping strips and the center is cut out over the area of focus).
WHAT IS KINESIO TAPING USED FOR?
Treating injuries
Physical therapists sometimes use kinesiology taping as one part of an overall treatment program for people who have been injured. Research shows that Kinesio taping is most effective when it is used in conjunction along with other treatments like manual therapy.
Protect muscles
When you see athletes, who use Kinesio tape, some of them are injured. But in reality, most of them use it to protect healthy muscles. It can help activate muscle receptors in your skin, resulting in a harder muscular contraction.
So, for instance, a volleyball player who uses his anterior deltoids a lot may place Kinesio tape on the back of his shoulder joint to activate her deep rotator cuff muscles, preventing overuse injuries and protecting the shoulder joint eventually.
Reducing swelling
If you have got an acute rather than a chronic injury, kinesiology taping can be useful for more than simply treating your pain. In people who have experienced a sports injury, had a surgical procedure, or endured trauma to a limb or joint, this treatment can promote drainage through lymph channels and reduce swelling. As a result, it helps you heal quicker and restore strength and mobility in the affected areas.
Managing scars
It is believed that applying kinesiology tape along the lines of restriction of scars helps to provide low intensity, long-duration stretches to the tissues around the scar tissue. This helps to slowly stretch out the collagen cells that contribute to the scar. The tape will accelerate the scar healing and ensure smoother skin as well. The treatment does briefly turn sustained, but the results are great.
Enhancing performance
Some athletes use kinesiology taping to help them in achieving peak performance and protect against injury when they’re competing in special events.
AND MUCH MORE!
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
The physical therapist would teach you about the tape and help you set realistic goals and achieve them gradually. Since kinesiology taping is a novel and new method in the field of physical therapy, much research is still pending to understand the mechanism of how tape works but by the time, it has proven to be effective in various concerns.
It may look like nothing but a fad, but it is supported by solid scientific evidence. Make sure you have a good quality product, be aware of its usage, and always have a clear goal in mind when using it.
