When you hit the internet and look for kinesiology tapes for sale, you’ll see several brands available. Know that they’re more than just colorful stretches of tape. Advanced Chiropractors Group is here to answer some questions about kinesiology tape, what it’s for, and how to use it.
The Origins of Kinesiology Tape
What is kinesiology tape? Let’s first discuss its origins. The original product was developed in the late 1970s by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor who wanted an athletic tape that works better than traditional athletic tapes. It is latex-free and hypoallergenic, made of cotton, and has an acrylic heat-activated backing that stretches along its longitudinal axis.
Kinesiology tape is a therapeutic tape strategically applied on the body to:
- Improve athletic performance
- Provide support
- Reduce pain
- Minimize swelling
Experts claim that kinesiology tape successfully achieves these goals, but further studies are needed to determine what it can and can’t do.
The Many Uses of Kinesiology Tape
What is kinesiology tape used for? Kinesiology tapes are more than just colorful tapes athletes use. Kinesiology tape is most often used for:
1. Treating Injuries
Physical therapists often incorporate kinesiology taping into a patient’s overall treatment plan. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, kinesiology taping is most effective when combined with other treatment options.
2. Re-training Muscles
Kinesiology taping helps re-educate muscles that have lost their function or are frequently misused. It can be splayed on the head and neck to correct posture. A 2017 study shows that kinesiology tape helps stroke patients walk better.
3. Managing Scars
According to this research, kinesiology taping shows promise in improving how scars look after an injury or surgery. Please take note; do not cover open wounds with kinesiology tape. Please consult your primary physician if you plan on using it for scar management.
4. Supporting Weak Muscle Zones
Compared to traditional athletic and medical tapes, kinesiology tape allows you to move normally and supports weak joints or muscles. You may benefit from kinesiology taping if you have the following conditions:
- Achilles tendonitis
- Iliotibial band friction syndrome
- Patellofemoral stress syndrome
5. Enhance Athletic Performance
This is the most popular use for kinesiology tape. Athletes use kinesiology tape to protect their muscles from injury and achieve peak performance during competitions.
How To Use Kinesiology Tape?
Aside from answering the question, “what is kinesiology tape?” we’ll also cover how to use it. Before buying kinesiology tape, you should first consult a medical professional trained in the Kinesio Taping Method to show you how to apply it.
The pattern of application will depend on the specific problem you have. The patterns include a Y, X, I, or fan pattern. Depending on what you’re trying to treat or achieve, you may need both decompression and stabilization strips.
You must know how to use kinesiology tape before doing it yourself. You may ask your physical therapist to instruct you on applying and removing it on your own while they watch.
Here are the steps in applying it:
- Clean and dry the area. Avoid using lotions or oils.
- If you have excess hair in the area, trim it. Long body hair can prevent the kinesiology tape from sticking properly.
- In most cases, you’ll first tear the backing paper found in the center.
- If the strips don’t have rounded corners on both ends, cut them. Rounded corners prevent the tape from getting caught on your clothes.
- Let the ends of the tape recoil slightly when you remove the backing paper. Don’t stretch the last two inches of either end of the tape — those tabs secure the tape in place. Stretching them
- will only pull on your skin and irritate it.
- Keep your fingers on the packing paper. Touching the adhesive will make the tape less sticky.
- Your therapist will tell you how much stretch you need and how to achieve it.
- To get an even stretch, use your thumb across the tape as you stretch it.
- After applying it, rub it for several seconds to activate the glue on the tape with heat. It will take about 20 minutes for it to fully adhere.
Advanced Chiropractors Group Is Here For You
If you are interested in using kinesiology tape and are a candidate for it, consult a licensed physical therapist or chiropractor.
Advanced Chiropractors Group is affiliated with skilled and licensed chiropractors around your area. Begin your journey to wellness with us! Get in touch with us, and we’ll connect you to the best chiropractors in town right away.
