Kinesio Taping (Therapeutic Taping)
Kinesio Taping is a special taping technique. It has been discovered by Dr. Kenzo 40 years ago. This special taping technique differs from the classic elastic taping with the tape used. This is a special self adhesive elastic tape. Kinesio Taping method has been increasingly used in musculoskeletal conditions, especially sports injuries for the past 10 years.
Taping has always been a desirable technique for physical therapy. The basic principle of Kinesio Taping is to both stabilize and accelerate recovery of the damaged site. Special tapes that is composed of an elastic and long staying acrylic material are used for Kinesio Taping.
What are the Specifications of Kinesio Tapes?
This tape is manufactured from a very thin and sensitive cotton material.
It quickly dries thanks to the special air canals on the adhesive surface, making it extremely resistant to water and perspiration. The tape strongly adheres to the skin but thanks to its acrylic composition, it does not cause any irritation. Due to its resistance to water, the patient can even take a shower with the tape on. Kinesio Tape can stay on the application site up to 5 days depending on the skin type and environmental conditions. One of the most outstanding features of the tape is to adapt to the elasticity of the skin. Thus, the tape can easily adapt to stretching and loose parts of the body. Another important feature is that the tape does not include anything that may cause allergic reactions.
Kinesio Taping Mechanism of Action
Human body is designed to move and the key elements of this movement are the nervous system and musculoskeletal system. Muscles adhere to the skeletal tissues with tendons and contract with nerve stimulus to generate movement. If the muscles are intensively recruited, micro injuries occur in the muscle. Inflammatory edema generated as a result of these injuries causes suppression between the skin and muscle tissue and this suppression prevents lymphatic flow on the skin. This inflammation stimulates subcutaneous sensory nerves to cause pain and stretching. These types of pain is defined as muscle pain, shoulder pain, myalgia etc. Kinesio Taping, thanks to its elasticity, basically lifts the skin up to soothe the spacing between the skin and muscles to relieve the pain caused by the injury. With the pressure decrease on the injured site, the blood and lymph flow is improved. Also, the therapy prevents stimulation on the subcutaneous pain sensitive nerves and relieves the pain due to movement. The primary goal of kinesio taping is to support pain-free motion, accelerating recovery.
What are The Theuropatic Effects of Kinesio Taping?
– Helps restoring musculoskeletal system.
– Minimizes pain.
– Prevents from injuries.
– Improves performance.
– Improves blood and lymph flow and accelerates recovery.
– Helps to move joints with a functional support.
– Supports recruiting weak muscles.
– Helps functioning of muscles and can prevent hyperfunction.
– Provides lymphatic flow support for one day, if applied for lymph drainage.
– Can support weak tissues in the body when applied with corrective techniques. Thus, it helps enabling the muscles function earlier and pain-free.
Who Can Apply Kinesio Taping Therapy?
There are many techniques depending on the purpose of taping. Thus, the practitioner must be experienced and well informed about musculoskeletal system and movement. In our country, trained physical therapy specialists and physiotherapists perform this therapy.
How Can We Use Kinesio Taping Under Which Circumstances?
Kinesio Taping is a multi-functional therapy method that can be employed for many different musculoskeletal disorders. It is usually administered for several times at intervals of 3-5 days, depending on the patient’s condition. In some cases, it is possible to administer prior to sports games to support sports activity.
– Sports injuries (muscle, tendon and joint injuries)
– Rotator cuff disorders
– Lumbar, neck and back pain
– Painful muscle spasms
– Ankle strains
– Post-surgical edema in the arms and legs (lymphoedema)
– Muscle weakness secondary to neurological disorders
– Tennis elbow, Achilles tendinitis
– Postural faults
– Knee disorders (chondromalacia, meniscus disorders, kneecap disorders etc.)
– Wrist injuries