Have you ever been to a sporting event and saw someone wearing tape? Or went to a physiotherapy appointment and had it recommended for your treatment plan? Taping has become a popular modality for a lot of therapists to use to help their patients and clients. Over previous years, I have used it on myself to help recover from minor injuries. At first, I never understood how it works, so I decided to learn more about it. What is kinesiology tape? It is composed from a nylon and cotton blend to help imitate the skins movement and flexibility. With the addition of medical grade adhesive, the tape can stay on the skin for up to 5 days. When preparing the tape, the edges are rounded so they won't get caught on clothes and stay on the skin. How does it work? When the tape is applied to the affected area, it is stretched to various degrees. The tape then slightly recoils to help lift the skin and create a small space.
How can this help manage symptoms? By creating this small space, the tape can help by: -Placing the soft tissues on a stretch to help alleviate tension;
-Provided support for weak tissues around affected joints;
-Reduced swelling and inflammation;
-Awareness of body mechanics, and;
-Improving muscle performance
When kinesiology is applied, the tissues should be clean and dry to allow the adhesive to stick. If it is applied after a massage, usually a warm cloth with soap or a wipe can be used to remove the oil or lotion. The affected area is placed into a stretched or loose position, and the tape is applied. A light massage over the tape can be done to create heat to activate the adhesive.
There are some cautions and considerations with the kinesiology tape. The main one being if there is a sensitivity of the adhesive. If you are aware or this sensitivity, please notify the practitioner if they mention taping. If you are concerned about the sensitivity, we can try a test strip to see if there is a reaction. If you have a reaction to the tape, it should be removed immediately. Other concerns include open wounds, rashes on the skin, varicose veins and people who bruise easily. To remove the kinesiology tape, make sure that you pull the tape back on itself as opposed to straight up. This will help to reduce discomfort from removing the adhesive. You may have an easier time removing the tape in the shower as the warm water helps the adhesive let go. Another safe alternative would be to apply some baby oil to help the adhesive disengage. To remove the kinesiology tape, make sure that you pull the tape back on itself as opposed to straight up. This will help to reduce discomfort from removing the adhesive.
If you have any questions about kinesiology tape, please let me know! Thank you for stopping and I hope you have a great day!
Stanborough, R. J. (2019, March 20). Kinesiology tape benefits and uses. Healthline. Retrieved October 31, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/kinesiology-tape#contraindications