Recently our Chiropractor Mike and Sports Therapist Hannah attended a Rock Tape course to learn the art of Kinesio Taping. You may have seen brightly-coloured so-called “K-Tape” adorning the limbs and torsos of elite athletes. But what is Kinesio Taping, and what does it do?

Traditionally, taping has been restricted to “support” type taping, where injured joints are prevented from moving by using very stiff and strong (usually white) tape. This is still widely used today especially in contact sports like rugby. Kinesio taping is a more recent innovation, which started as a performance aid but has been used in physiotherapy and chiropractic clinics worldwide for many years now.

Kinesio Taping is a technique that involves the application of a specialized elastic tape onto the skin. Unlike traditional athletic tape, Kinesio Tape is designed to mimic the elasticity of human skin, allowing for a wide range of motion and flexibility.

How Does Kinesio Taping Work?

There are three main ways in which Kinesio Taping is thought to work:

1. Decompression

   The unique elasticated design of Kinesio Tape allows it to gently lift the skin, creating space between the dermis and underlying tissues. This lifting action is thought to alleviate pressure on pain receptors and improve circulation, reducing inflammation and promoting healing.

2. Neurosensory

   This simply means that the tape will provide feedback through the skin, giving your body another stimulus. This might not sound like it does much at first, but it works in much the same way that “rubbing it better” does. The new sensation helps to “drown out” painful signals being sent by the injured body part.

3. Behavioural

   The sensation of the tape on your skin acts as a behaviour changer. It can help to correct throwing or running form faults (especially under fatigue) or serve as a reminder to keep certain postural habits if posture is a part of your problem.

These three ways are all help to reduce pain, improve movement and increase confidence.

Benefits of Kinesio Taping

1. Pain Relief: Kinesio tape can help alleviate pain associated with a variety of common conditions, including muscle strains, joint injuries, and inflammatory conditions like tendinitis.

2. Better Movement: Kinesio Tape can also be used to help correct or improve certain movements. Using the tape as a kind of feedback, athletes and individuals recovering from injuries can improve joint motions and reduce the risk of re-injury.

3. Performance Enhancement: In addition to its therapeutic benefits, Kinesio Tape is also used to enhance athletic performance. Kinesio Tape can provide support to key muscle groups and improve efficiency, helping athletes achieve peak performance on the field or in the gym.

4. Improved Circulation and Lymphatic Drainage: The lifting action of Kinesio Tape helps to remove waste products, reducing swelling and inflammation. This can accelerate the healing process and enhance recovery from injury or surgery.

Where Can I Get Kinesio Tape Treatment?

We use Kinesio Tape on certain patients at our Exmouth Chiropractic Clinic. For best results, we recommend that initial Kinesio Taping should be performed by a trained healthcare professional. Proper application technique will help to ensure optimal results and minimise the risk of skin irritation or discomfort. Our therapists are Rock Tape trained and can give you the proper advice.

Kinesio Tape is simple to apply and can even be done at home if you are confident using it. Your therapist may show you how to do it and give you advice on self-application, depending on the desired outcome. You can even buy Rock Tape - the premium brand of Kinesio Tape that we use in our consultations - direct from us at the clinic.

It's important to note that while Kinesio Tape can provide temporary relief from pain and improve functional outcomes, it is rarely a complete solution by itself. Kinesio Taping should be used as part of a comprehensive plan that may include physical therapy, exercise, and other types of treatment.

If you’d like to know more about how Kinesio Taping can help you, book an appointment with us now.