What Is Kinesio Tape? Tips for Knees, Shoulders, Ankles ...

Kinesio Tape is a latex-free hypoallergenic cotton fiber tape that is used to move lymph fluids, change muscle tone, improve posture, and correct movement ... WhatIs Uses Whatiskinesiotapeusedfor? Types Whatarethetypesofkinesiotaping? HowDoesKTTapeWork? HowdoesKTtapework? Center WhatIsKinesioTape(KT)?Center Comments PatientComments:KinesioTaping-Effectiveness Kinesio Tape(KT),orkinesiologytape,isusedbytherapiststochangemuscletone,movelymphaticfluids,correctmovementpatterns,andimproveposture.KinesioTape(KT),orkinesiologytape, isanewlypopularizedmodalitythatisusedbytherapiststrainedintheKinesioTapingMethodbyCertifiedKinesioTapingInstructors(CKTI).KinesioTapeisalatex-freehypoallergeniccottonfibertapewithanacrylicheat-activatedbackingthatstretchesonlyalongitslongitudinalaxis.Thetapecanbestretched40%-60%ofitsrestinglength.Thetapehasnomedicinalproperties.Thethicknessandweightofthetapeisdesignedtoapproximatetheweightandthicknessofskin.KinesioTapewascreatedanddevelopedbyDr.KenzoKasein1973.Itisatreatmentthatisfelttoprolongtheeffectsofphysiologicworkdone.Aftermanyunsuccessfulattemptstouseadhesivetapesthatwerecommerciallyavailable,Dr.KasedevelopedKinesioTexTape. Whatiskinesiotapeusedfor? Physicaltherapists,occupationaltherapists,certifiedathletictrainers,chiropractors,physicians,manualtherapists,nurses,andphysiotherapistsaroundtheworldareusingKinesioTapeformanydysfunctionsonawidespectrumfromtemporomandibularjoint(TMJ)disordertoturftoe.Today,thoughKinesioTapeisusedprimarilybynon-athleticpopulations,itisalsousedbyhigh-profileathletes.PictureofKinesioTape Whatarethetypesofkinesiotaping? TheKinesioTapingMethodTheKinesioTapingMethodisbelievedtocausephysiologicaleffectsonseveralbodysystems.Thesystemsaffectedbythebodyarethoughttoincludethecirculatory/lymphatic,neural,muscular,andfascialsystems,aswellasthejoints.KinesioTapingiscurrentlybeingusedbytherapiststochangemuscletone,movelymphaticfluids,correctmovementpatterns,andimproveposture.TheKinesioTapingMethodisauniquemethodofapplyingKinesioTexTapeinaspecificmannertocreatechangeintheaforementionedsystems.Benefitsofusingthetapearethatitismoreeconomicalovertimethanothermodalities,itiseasytolearnandapply,therearelesstypesoftape,anditmaybeusedoveralongerperiodoftime.TheKinesioTapingMethodhasbeendevelopedspecificallytobeusedinconjunctionwithKinesioTape.TheKinesioTapingAssociationcertifiespractitionersoftheKinesioTapingMethod.KinesioTapecanbeidentifiedbythewords"KinesioTex"printedonthebackofthetape.PictureofKinesioTapeTheKinesioTapingMethoddiffersfromathleticstrappingtapeandthetraditionalMcConnellTapingMethod.Athleticstrappingtapeisusedmostlytolimitrangesofmotionandtoconstrictmusclemovement.Theeffectofthismethodistocreateabridgeovertheareasthatareinjuredsothatathletescanperformsportmovementsandhaveeitherprophylacticsupportorsupporttoaninjuredpartofthebody.Athletictapeistypicallyremovedaftertheendofanathleticevent.TheMcConnellTapingMethodTheMcConnellTapingMethodisatechniquethattapesbodypartstoaffectaspecificbiomechanicalmovement.McConnellTapeusesaveryrigid,highlyadhesivetapethatisappliedfornomorethan18hoursandoftenforshorterperiodsoftimeduetopatientdiscomfort.PictureofKinesioTape SLIDESHOW Picturesofthe7MostEffectiveExercisestoDoattheGymorHome(andTipstoImproveForm) SeeSlideshow HowdoesKTtapework? ThefollowingarethecurrenttheoriesofhowproperlyappliedKinesioTapeworks:Onskin,theKinesioTapepullstheupperlayersofskin,creatingmorespacebetweenthedermisandthemuscle.Thespacecreatedisbelievedtorelievepressureonthelymphchannelsintheareabetweenthemuscleandthedermis,creatingmorespaceforlymphflowandthusbetterlymphdrainagethroughanaffectedarea.Thisspacealsohousesvariousnervereceptorsthatsendspecificinformationtothebrain.Whenthespacebetweentheepidermisandthemuscleiscompressed,suchasduringaninjury,thesenervereceptorsarecompressedandsendinformationtothebrainregardingcontinuoustouch,lighttouch,cold,pain,pressure,andheat.Thisinformationcausesthebraintosendoutcertainsignalstothebodyonhowtoreacttoparticularstimuli.KinesioTapealterstheinformationthatthesereceptorssendtothebrainandcausesalessreactiveresponseinthebody,allowingthebodytoworkinamorenormalmannerandremovingsomeoftheroadblocksthatnormallyslowdownthehealingprocess.KinesioTapealsoisfelttoaffectdeepertissuesinthebody.Increasedspacetheoreticallyallowsmusclesgreatercontractility,whichinturnpushesmorefluidthroughthemuscle,resultinginbettermuscleperformance.Theendresultsarebelievedtobereducedmusclefatigue,increaseinrangeofmotion,andbetterqualityofmusclecontraction.KinesioTexTapeisusedtoimprovejointalignmentbyaffectingthemusclesandfasciaandcanreducepoorfunctionofajointbyinfluencingopposingmusclegroupsandjointmobility.PictureofKinesioTapeFasciaandlymphhaveanintimaterelationshipwitheachother.Fasciaisamaterialthatdividesandseparatesthemusclesandinternalorgansandhelpstoprovidesupportagainstgravityinsomepartsofthebody.Lymphremovesfluidsandchemicalsubstancesinthemuscles.Lymphchannelspassthoughfasciabetweentheboneandthemuscleandsuperficiallybetweentheskinandthemuscle.Lymphductsrangeinsizefromsmallerthanahairto2cmlymphnodes.Majorlymphchannelscanbefoundinthegroin,neck,andarmpits.Whentheflowoflymphisrestrictedorincreased,anaccumulationoffluidoccursbehindthecongestedarea,resultinginswellingthatdecreasesspacebetweenthemuscleandskin,causingthebodytoreacttoapainfulstimulus.TheworkingmodelgivesrisetothebasictheoreticalconceptsoftheKinesioTapingMethod.TherearesixbasicconceptsoftheKinesioTapingtechniquecalledcorrections: Mechanicalcorrectionsareusedforimprovedstabilityandbiomechanics.Fasciaorfascialcorrectionscreateordirectmovementoffascia.Spacecorrectionsareusedfordecreasingpressureoveratargettissue.Tendon/ligamentcorrectionsdecreasestressonaligamentortendon.Functionalcorrectionsprovidesensorystimulationtoeitherassistorlimitamotion.Circulatory/lymphaticcorrectionshelpmovelymphaticfluidfrommorecongestedtolesscongestedareas.KinesioTapinghasalsobeenshowntoaffectscars.Reductionsofadhesionsandpitting,softening,flattening,improvedpliability,andreductionofcontractureshavebeenseeninsomepatients. LatestExercise&FitnessNews WalkingYourWaytoBetterHealth?RememberFIT WeightTrainingEveryWeekCanExtendYourLife FindExerciseThrillsinWinter'sChill COVIDVaccineWon'tAffectAbilitytoExercise TakeTheseWinterWorkoutTipstoHeart DailyHealthNews HowPsychedelicsWork JustOneDoseofHPVVaccineEnough HighPrevalenceofHeadacheDisorders IndoorMaskMandateBack RAMedsLowerAlzheimer'sRisk MoreHealthNews» TrendingonMedicineNet Triple-NegativeBreastCancer CausesofStoolColorChanges GoodHeartRateByAge LaminectomyRecoveryTime NormalBloodPressureByAge HealthSolutionsFromOurSponsors PenisCurvedWhenErect CouldIhaveCAD? TreatBentFingers TreatHR+,HER2-MBC TiredofDandruff? LifewithCancer MedicallyReviewedon2/12/2021 References MedicallyreviewedbyAimeeV.HachigianGould,MD;AmericanBoardofOrthopaedicSurgery REFERENCES: Kase,K.,Hashimoto,T.,andOkane,T.(1996)KinesioPerfectTapingManual.(pp.1-10).UniversalPrintingandPublishing,Inc. Kase,K.,Wallis,J.,andKase,T.(2003)ClinicalTheraputicapplicationsoftheKinesioTapingMethod®.KenIkaiCo.Ltd,Tokyo,Japan Martin,P.(2003).18thAnnualKinesioTapingInternationalSymposiumReview.Tokyo,Japan:KinesioTapingAssociation. Maruko,K.(1999).KinesioTaping®withAquaTherapyforPediatricDisabilityInvolvingNeurologicalImpairment.15thAnnualKinesioTapingInternationalSymposiumReview.(pp.70-73)Tokyo,Japan:KinesioTapingAssociation. Murray,H.(2000).KinesioTaping®,MuscleStrengthandROMafterACLRepair.JournalofOrthopedicandSportsPhysicalTherapy,30,1. Nosaka,K.(1999).TheEffectofKinesioTaping®onMuscularMicro-DamageFollowingEccentricExercises.15thAnnualKinesioTapingInternationalSymposiumReview.(pp.70-73)Tokyo,Japan:KinesioTapingAssociation. RockStockheimer,K.,Kase,K.,andPillar,N.(2006)LymphoedemaandChronicSwelling.KinesioUSA,LLC. Thelan,M.,Dauber,J.A.,andStoneman,P.(2008)TheClinicalEfficacyofKinesioTapeforShoulderPain:ARandomized,Double-Blinded,ClinicalTrial. JOrthopSportsPhysTher.2008;38(7):389-395,publishedonline29May2008.doi:10.2519/jospt.2008.2791 Yasukawa,A.,Martin,P.,andKase,K.(2006)KinesioTapinginPediatrics.KinesioUSA,LLC. CompleteList TopKinesioTapeRelatedArticles FitnessRegularphysicalactivitycanreducetheriskofdisease.Regularexercisecanalsoreducethesymptomsofstressandanxiety.Therearefitnessprogramsthatfitanyageorlifestyle. Fitness:ExercisesforaHealthyHeartRegularexercisecanhelpreducetheriskofheartdisease.Toachievemaximumbenefits,doamixofstretchingexercises,aerobicactivity,andstrengtheningexercise.Aimtoget20to30minutesofaerobicexerciseatleastthreetofourtimesaweek.Consultadoctorbeforeexercisingforthefirsttime,especiallyifyouhavehealthproblems. HamstringInjuryHamstringinjuriesmayrangefromminorstrainstomajorruptures.Ahamstringinjurycausesspasm,tightness,andtenderness.Moresevereinjuriesmaycauseswellingandbruising.Whilemosthamstringinjurieshealwithoutsurgery,acompleterupturewouldrequiresurgery. KneeInjuryKneeinjuries,especiallymeniscustears,arecommonincontactsports.Symptomsandsignsofatornmeniscusincludekneepain,swelling,apoppingsound,anddifficultybendingtheleg.Treatmentmayinvolveresting,icing,compressing,andelevatingtheknee,inadditiontowearingakneebrace,takinganti-inflammatorymedications,andstretchingtheknee. QuadricepsInjuryTherearemanytypesofquadricepsinjuries,includingstrains,contusions,Osgood-Schlatterdisease,patellartendinitis,quadricepstendinitis,jumper'sknee,tendinitis,compartmentsyndrome,rupture,andherniation.Symptomsandsignsofaquadricepsinjuryincludingpain,swelling,limping,anddecreasedrangeofmotion.Treatmentofmostquadinjuriesincludesrest,ice,compression,andelevation.Ibuprofenmayhelpwithpainrelief. TemporomandibularJointSyndrome(TMJ)Temporomandibularjoint(TMJ)syndromeisadisorderthatcausessymptomslikepain,clicking,andpoppingofthejaw.TMJiscausedbyinjurytothetemporomandibularjoint.Stress,poorposture,jawtrauma,geneticpredisposition,andinflammatorydisordersareriskfactorsforthecondition.Avarietyofself-caremeasures(applicationofice,useofover-the-counterpainmedication,massage,relaxationtechniques)andmedicaltreatmentoptions(dentalsplint,Botox,prescriptionmedications,surgery)areavailabletomanageTMJ.TheprognosisofTMJisgoodwithpropertreatment. WhatIstheMostPainfulShoulderInjury?Asarule,afractureisoftenthemostpainfulshoulderinjury,followedbyotherconditionsofthenervesandtissuesoftheshoulderjoint.