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Kinesiology Tape

Kinesiology tape is a thin, stretchy, elastic cotton strip with an acrylic adhesive. Therapeutic kinesiology tape that can benefit a wide variety of musculoskeletal and sports injuries, plus inflammatory conditions.

Kinesiology tape is almost identical to human skin in both thickness and elasticity, which allows kinesio tape to be worn without binding, constricting or restriction of your movement.

Kinesiology tape is an that is used for treating athletic injuries and a variety of physical disorders. For the first decade after its introduction practitioners in Japan were the main users of the therapeutic kinesiology tape. By 1988 the tape had been adopted by Japanese Olympic and professional athletes before spreading across the world.

You would have noticed that more an more professional athletes use kinesiology taping improve their sporting performance, prevent injury and allow them to return to sport quicker.

Based upon years of clinical use, Kinesio® Tex Tape is specifically applied to the patient based upon their needs after evaluation. The findings of the clinical evaluation or assessment dictate the specifics of the Kinesio® Tex Tape application and other possible treatments or modalities. With the utilization of single “I” strips or modifications in the shape of an “X”, “Y” or other specialized shapes as well as the direction and amount of stretch placed on the tape at time of application, Kinesio® Tex Tape can be applied in hundreds of ways and has the ability to re-educate the neuromuscular system, reduce pain and inflammation, optimize performance, prevent injury and promote good circulation and healing, and assist in returning the body to homeostasis.

The Kinesio Benefit

Evaluation and assessment are key in the treatment of any clinical condition. In order to get the desired results from a Kinesio Tex Tape application as well as any other treatment, a full assessment of your patient is necessary. In some cases, the treatment of a condition may require treatment of other underlying conditions as well. This assessment should include manual muscle testing, range of motion testing, gait assessment, and any other orthopedic special tests that you deem necessary. The information gained from these assessments will allow for the proper treatment protocol to be laid out. Kinesio Tex Tape can be a valuable addition to this protocol. It has been proven to have positive physiological effects on the skin, lymphatic and circulatory system, fascia, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. It can be used in conjunction with a multitude of other treatments and modalities within your clinic and is effective during the rehabilitative and chronic phases on an injury as well as being used for preventative measures.

The Kinesio Taping® Method is a definitive rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while providing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion as well as providing extended soft tissue manipulation to prolong the benefits of manual therapy administered within the clinical setting. Latex-free and wearable for days at a time, Kinesio® Tex Tape is safe for populations ranging from pediatric to geriatric, and successfully treats a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological and other medical conditions. The Kinesio® Taping Method is a therapeutic taping technique not only offering your patient the support they are looking for, but also rehabilitating the affected condition as well. By targeting different receptors within the somatosensory system, Kinesio® Tex Tape alleviates pain and facilitates lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin. This lifting affect forms convolutions in the skin thus increasing interstitial space and allowing for a decrease in inflammation of the affected areas.

Kinesio® Taping Technique 

Kinesio® Taping Technique is a therapeutic taping method that allows for treatment for all types of clinical conditions such as orthopedic, neurologic, and even autonomic pathologies in age groups. The application guidelines allow for and assist normal circulation/lymphatic flow, normal muscle function, remodeling of fascial tissue, and can improve joint balance. The Kinesio® Taping Method is designed to guide the body toward homeostasis.

WHAT MAKES KINESIO TAPE DIFFERENT?

There are two Kinesio Tapes, and there is a reason for that. Recognizing some of the advanced needs and specialized uses of Kinesio Tape in the medical setting, Dr. Kase created Kinesio Tex Gold FP, which stands for the more micro-targeted fingerprint pattern of the adhesive in the advanced tape product. This is particularly effective when used for circulatory, lymphatic, or neurological treatments. For many muscle and joint Kinesio Taping techniques, Kinesio Tex Classic tape is still the choice of the practitioner or everyday user.

The Classic and “FP” Kinesio Tapes have a great deal in common. From the beginning, Dr. Kase believed his tape needed to mimic the qualities of the superficial layers of the skin: the epidermis. The thickness of the Kinesio Tex Tape is approximately the same as the epidermis. This design element was intended to decrease the distraction of tape on the skin when properly applied. After approximately 10 minutes, the conscious recognition of the tape decreases however the proprioceptive input to the body and brain continues.

KInesio Tape fibers are designed to stretch longitudinally up to 40 to 60% of it resting length. (A 10 inch strip of Kinesio Tex Tape will stretch to 14 to 16 inches in total length). This is approximately the stretch capability of normal skin in areas such as the knee, low back and cervical region.

The heat activated acrylic adhesive is bonded to the fabric in a wave pattern similar to fingerprints. This assists the lifting of the skin, often seen as convolutions. The breathability and gentle adhesive allow for repeated applications without skin irritation. Like the skin, Kinesio Tex tape is porous. The combination of the cotton latex free fabric and the wave pattern adhesive improves patient comfort by allowing the skin to breathe. The water resistant protectorate applied to the cotton fibers resists moisture penetration and allows for “quick drying”. This assures that the patient may shower and the tape will remain effective and in good position for three to five days.

WHAT IS THE KINESIO TAPING METHOD?

Strains & Sprains

All Kinesio® Tex products are uniquely designed to be gentle to the skin, comfortable for days at a time and allow normal mobility through any stage of the rehabilitation process.

Dr Padhiar, who works at The John King Centre said: 'If you experience ongoing leg pain in the tibia - the shin bone - and you have been told you have shin splints, it is vital to seek expert advice from a qualified health professional.

'This can be a consultant podiatrist, lower limb orthopaedic specialist and some specialist physiotherapists.

'Some conditions mean athletes can't run for more than ten minutes without pain, or even walk, while others can lead to a stress fracture.'

'These conditions may not be life-threatening, but it's as serious to an athlete who cannot exercise and they should make sure they seek proper help early on,' he added.

He said there is good evidence that cases of exercise induced leg pain are increasing.

The highest rate is among people doing cross country and long distance running - almost one in two regular runners will be affected at some point - followed by dancers.

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