Blog Update: Kinesio Tape
Many people first noticed the black tape on US Volleyball player, Kerri Walsh’s right shoulder during the 2008 Olympic Games. Recently you may have seen the tape on quite a few players during the 2011 French Open. Runners, soccer players, football players are all wearing it. You better believe that if professional athletes are doing it, so is Washington Park Chiropractic.
The tape is called Kinesio Tape, and it’s actually been around since 1975, when it was first invented by a Japanese chiropractor, Dr Kenso Kase. Over the last 35 years it has grown considerably in it’s application and use, and has also undergone a number of changes in tape construction.
Primary Uses for Kinesio Tape
- Support during and after an injury to muscle, ligament or joint. K-tape can speed up the healing of a new injury and can get you back to activity faster by providing flexible support.
- Posture correction. If you are a sloucher or feel that your posture can use some help, a few applications of K-tape will retrain your muscles and dramatically change your posture.
- Pregnancy support. Many pregnancy support belts are uncomfortable and impractical. K-tape can be applied as a support for a growing belly but can also be used to support ribs, low back, carpal tunnel and any associated swelling.
- Reducing swelling or bruising. When used immediately after injury K-tape can speed healing, reduce swelling and resolve bruising.
In our office we offer dozens of Kinesio Tape applications. We may generally recommend somewhere between 3-6 applications of tape. Many are simple enough to apply to yourself or have someone else apply to you if you require more than one application.
Most often taped areas & conditions
- Neck & shoulders posture taping
- Knee
- Shoulder
- Elbow (Tennis or Golfers Elbow)
- TMJ (Jaw Pain)
- Low Back
- Rib Fractures &/or Rib Pain
- Achillies Tendon
- Shin Splints
Most impressively, Kinesio Tape will generally stay affixed for somewhere between 3-5 days! There are several types, colors and sizes of K-tape. The color does not reflect a difference in the tape’s effectiveness but can reflect a patient’s personality. In our office we offer black, blue and nude to blend in better for those not looking to show off their tape.
Types of Kinesio Tape
- Rocktape has a very strong adhesive and we use it primarily for swimmers and patients who want the tape to stay on as long as possible.
- Spidertape is pre-cut and we prefer to use it for complicated and highly specific applications.
Kinesio Tape provides continued support of your chiropractic adjustments, massage and manual therapies (i.e. Graston Treatments) after you leave the office. Ask Dr. Goodman or Dr. Simpson if you think Kinesio Tape may work for you.
