Kinesiology Tape: Help Or Hype? | Henry Ford LiveWell

Kinesiology tape is a proven therapy that produces physiological effects on the neuromuscular, lymphatic and circulatory systems. It can be used ... JumptoCookieConsent Skiptomaincontent Close Close FeelWell EatWell MoveWell ParentWell ExploreHenryford.com Healthandwellnesstipsdeliveredrighttoyourinbox. "clickheretosignup" Close Close KinesiologyTape:HelpOrHype? PostedonJanuary25,2019 byHenryFordHealthStaff 17807 Share Ifyou’resufferingfromaninjury,youmaybenefitfromanon-invasivetreatmentthatdoesn’tevenrequirepoppingapill:kinesiologytape. “Unlikeathletictape,whichlimitsmotion,kinesiologytapeisdesignedtomakemovementeasierbyreducingpain,”saysKristinLevin,certifiedathletictrainerwithHenryFordHealth. Developedinthe1970sbyachiropractornamedDr.KensoKase,DC,thisflexibletapeworkswiththebodytopromotehealing.WhileDr.Kasedevelopedhisownbrandoftape(KinesioTape),therearemorethan50differenttypesoftapeonthemarket.Somearedesignedtoenhanceperformance,andothersaredesignedtocontrolswellingandlymphedema(acollectionoffluidtrappedinanareaduetoalymphsystemdysfunction). FAQ:KinesiologyTape Ifyou’vewatchedtheOlympicGames,you’veprobablyseenathleteswearingkinesiologytape.Thesebrightly-coloredstripscommonlycovertheshoulders,kneesandanklesoftheworld’stopathletes.Butcanithelpamateursandweekendwarriors,too?Here,Levinanswersfrequentlyaskedquestionsaboutthistrendytreatment. Q:Whatiskinesiologytape? A:Tapingisadecades-oldrehabilitationstrategyusedbyphysicaltherapists,chiropractors,personaltrainers,athletictrainersandotherhealthprofessionalstopromotehealing.OneofthemostpopulartapesonthemarketisKinesioTape,anon-latex,cottontapethatstretcheswithyourbody.It’sbreathable,water-resistantandlastsonyourskinforthreetofivedays—evenasyoushower,iceinjuriesandengageinregularactivities. Q:Howdoesitwork? A:Tapesupportsthebody’snaturalhealingprocessbymicroscopicallyliftinglayersofskin[.Thismicroscopicliftingstabilizesmusclesandtissues,helpsyourlymphsystemdrainexcessfluidandreduceswelling.Butunliketraditionalathletictape,itdoesn’trestrictmobility.Dependinghowyouapplythetape,itcanevenenhanceyourrangeofmotion.Thetapeservesasasortoftactilecueforthemusclestofire.Infact,manyathletesrelyontapetosupportinjuredmusclesandprotectthejoints. Q:Whatisitusedfor? A:Tapecanbeusedforalmostanyailmentfromheadachestolowbackpain.Youcanevenuseittodrawoutasplinter.Butmostpeopleusetapetoreducepainandenhanceperformance.Theshape,directionandamountofstretchplacedonthetape—alongwiththedurationoftimeitsitsontheskin—combinetoachievethedesiredgoal.Usedcorrectly,tapecanalsohelpre-educatetheneuromuscularsystem. Commongoalsoftape: Improvedrangeofmotion Reducedpainandswelling Supportandstability Scartissuemanagement Q:Canyoufeelit? A:Mostpeoplewhowearkinesiologytapecan’tfeelitaftertheinitialapplication.Thetapeiselastic,soitmoveswithyourbody.Inthatsense,itfeelsmuchdifferentthanathletictape,whichoftenhasthesensationofpullingyourbodyinacertainway. Q:WhoshouldNOTusekinesiologytape? A:Ingeneral,tapeissafetouseforalmostanyone.However,ifyouhavecancer,anopenwoundoranactiveinfection,youshouldavoidtapeuntilthoseissuesresolve.Tapeworkswithyourlymphaticsystemandincreasescirculation,soitcouldmakesomeofthoseconditionsworse. Q:Arethereanyrisksordrawbackstousingkinesiologytape? A:Ifyoupulltoohardonthetape–andmakeittootight–youcanblisterandtearyourskin.That’swhyit’simportanttoworkwithatrainedprofessionalratherthanapplythetapeonyourown.(Seebelowforapplicationtips).Thedirectionandtheamountofstretchmakesahugedifference. TipsforTapingSuccess Kinesiologytapeisaproventherapythatproducesphysiologicaleffectsontheneuromuscular,lymphaticandcirculatorysystems.Itcanbeusedonitsownorinconjunctionwithothertreatmentmodalities. Unfortunately,applyingtherapeutictapeisn’tfoolproof.Andinsomecases,evencorrectapplicationoftapemaynotresolveyourproblem.Herearefourtipstoincreaseyouroddsoftapingsuccess: Getevaluated:Beforeyouorahealthprofessionalappliestape,it’simportanttogetacompleteevaluation,includingmuscletesting,rangeofmotionandgaittesting.Insomecases,yourdoctormayneedtotreatanunderlyingconditionbeforeyoucanconsidertapetherapy. Workwithaprofessional:Findsomeonewhoholdsacertificationinthetypeoftapeyou’dliketouse.Athletictrainers,physicaltherapists,chiropractorsandevenmassagetherapistsmaybequalifiedtoapplykinesiologytape. Stayoutoftheheat:Kinesiologytapeisheat-activated,butit’salsowater-resistant.So,whileahottubsoakorhotshowerwon’taffectthetape,dryheatcanchangethechemicalpropertiesofthetape,makingitstickyandhardtoremove.Youcanstillwearitoutsideinthesummertimewithoutworry.Justbeawarethattoomuchheatmaybeproblematic. Don’trelyonthetape:Tapeismeanttoactasasortofbridgetohelpyougetpastanissueorconcern.It’snotmeanttobealifelongtreatment. Ifyou’resufferingfromaninjury,painorswellingfromlymphedema,askyourdoctororphysicaltherapistifkinesiologytapeisappropriateforyou. TofindadoctororphysicaltherapistatHenryFord,visithenryford.comorcall1-800-HENRYFORD(436-7936). KristinLevinisacertifiedathletictraineratHenryFordMedicalCenter–FordRoadinDearborn. 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