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| by Jill McCormick, PT |
If
you’ve watched sporting events recently, you may have noticed professional
athletes sporting cool-looking tape on their shoulders or knees. It’s not some
obscure form of body modification – it’s kinesiology tape. Believe it or not,
kinesiology tape has become so mainstream lately that you may have even seen
someone standing next to you in line at the grocery store with this unique-looking
application.
Unlike
the old-school athletic tape, kinesiology tape has both stretch and memory.
This allows for unlimited movement of the joint or limb while keeping it in
place. It is designed to stay on for days at a time, even in the shower or
pool. While you may remember first seeing it on the US Women’s Volleyball
player Kerri Walsh, t’s not just for athletes or sports injuries. This tape is
used in physical therapy to treat all kinds of pain and injuries, including shoulder tendonitis, hamstring
strains, low back pain and running injuries.
Upon
application, it lifts the skin, allowing for increased circulation and reducing
inflammation. The recoil effect helps support muscles, ligaments, fascia and
even bones. Furthermore, the sensory effect of the tape on the skin can reduce
pain signals to the brain, bring the brain’s attention to muscles that are
atrophied or underutilized, and calm a muscle that is overactive or in spasm. Seemingly
like magic, patients often see an improvement in range of motion and decreased
pain immediately!
In
summary, kinesiology tape can be used on sports and non-sports injuries alike and
it often helps reduce pain and increase range of motion on the spot. While it
isn’t magic, it certainly can seem like it and it can be a very valuable and
effective adjunct to your physical therapy program. If you are unsure about whether kinesiology taping
is a good option for treating the injury you have, Lakeshore Physical Therapy
has therapists with expertise in the taping technique and can provide
recommendations to help you to heal properly.
