“What is Kinesio tape?”
I recently read about the Kinesio tape method in physical therapy. What is it and when is it recommended for patients?
5 Answers
Great question! Kinesiotape is one of many brands that offer this versatile product that has multiple types of applications within physical therapy. The tape itself is made of a stretchy material that can reinforce a muscle contraction, calm down tension in a muscle, control swelling and decrease pain in general. It's typically designed to be worn for 2-3 days at a time and your physical therapist can even teach you how to apply it for yourself!
It's placebo =) Some people respond well to K-taping. I do it seldomly, but for some, it helps. Theirs no harm in trying it as long you have no allergic reactions to the adhesives. Active care is the most beneficial
Taping is a technique used to help stretch and protect soft tissue from getting more strained.
KT is typically best used as an adjunct to strength training and is a form of taping that alleviates pain temporarily. Read this for more info
http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/News/2015/2/20/TapingSystematicReview/
http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/News/2015/2/20/TapingSystematicReview/
KinesioTape is a brand name of Kinesiology tape. There area many others such as Spyder tape, Rock Tape, KT tape etc etc. Kinesiology tape is used to assist in guiding the body into corrected positions through movement. Sounds simple enough but is difficult to execute. KT tape can also help with pain mediation as it affects the neural pathways.
