Kinesiology Tape
Many of you have probably seen different athletes, whether on TV or at your local sporting events, cover their body with colorful tape in all sorts of crazy designs. What’s the point of it? Does it even do anything or is it just for show? Below is the truth behind this new fad that is gaining popularity and flooding your TV and local sporting arenas.
This tape being used is called Kinesiology Tape (KT). KT is a therapeutic tool that is being utilized more and more. It has been around for many years and has been used to help prevent or treat sporting injuries. Though athletes were amongst the first to utilize this technique, it is becoming more popular to treat a variety of conditions in all populations. It was first developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese’s chiropractor, in the 1970s. The tape was specifically developed to mimic traits of a person’s skin.
So how does it work?
There are a couple different ways KT has been shown to aid in muscle recovery. The first is the Gate Control Theory, which basically helps “calm” or “shut down” pain response. When you hit your foot on the corner of a coffee table, a common reaction is to rub your foot. The reason you do this if for pain relief because it interrupts the message to your brain that you’re in pain. Applying KT to an area of pain helps interrupt the pain message and provides relief.
Another way KT is beneficial is it helps aid in the body’s natural range of motion by providing light facilitation. Unlike other tape that is typically more rigid and is intended to block or impede motion, KT’s natural stretch helps a person achieve the desirable motion with assistance.
Finally, when a muscle is painful and inflamed it typically will lack space for blood flow and oxygen which is pertinent for muscle healing. The KT gently lifts the skin allowing for more space in the injured muscle. Decreasing the pressure in the muscle will help alleviate irritation to pain receptors and improve circulation by promoting increased blood flow and oxygen. Allowing more space encourages tissue repair.
KT has been shown to have several benefits…
- Proprioceptive and muscle facilitation
- Muscle inhibition
- Reduced muscle fatigue
- Reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS)
- Pain inhibition
- Enhanced healing, such as reducing edema
- Improvement of lymphatic drainage and blood flow
Clinical implications show an improvement in ROM, increased function and decreased edema, though the level of evidence that is available is weak. Despite some research supporting the theories behind KT, there is only a small amount of evidence that is available and there is still extensive research that needs to be done. Kinesio Tape is a therapeutic tool that is implemented in physical therapy when the therapist believes it will benefit the patient. KT can be applied almost anywhere on the body, though it is important to have a good understanding of placement to ensure you are getting the affect you want; facilitation, inhibition, edema control, etc. If the patient feels it has aided in their recovery, this is an easy method that they can apply independently or with assistance from a family member or friend. There are several different companies out there that sell Kinesio Tape. Each company will have their own styles, colors, and cuts. However, when it comes down to it, they essentially all achieve the same goal.
Dr. Lindy Kirby, PT, DPT
Lindy received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND in 2016. She enjoys working with all ages ranging from adolescence to geriatrics with a special interest in orthopedics, sport-related injuries and neurological conditions. She holds a M1 Graston Technique certification and a Kinetacore Level 1 Functional Dry Needling certification.
All Providers at Live in Motion strive to help patients recover lost function and maintain an active lifestyle. The goal is to help patients to do this without needing medications, having to visit their doctor routinely or contemplate surgical intervention.
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