The study of skeletal and muscular movement is known as kinesiology. Joints, muscles, tendons, and connective tissues are all studied and treated. According to kinesiology, the brain functions as a complex computer communicating with and directing all of the body’s muscles and tissues. Kinesiology has a more prominent role in sports than in many other fields because it is one of the leading human activities with a strong connection.
As a sports enthusiast, you’ve likely noticed athletes with vibrantly colored tapes on different parts of their bodies. These tapes are known as kinesiology tape. They are essential in enhancing athletes’ performance and facilitating injury recovery. However, their advantages extend beyond sports. In this article, we uncover the essence of kinesiology tapes – from understanding their types and functions in injury recovery to their broader impact on well-being.
What is Kinesiology Tape?
Kinesiology tapes, or Kinesio tapes or K-tapes, have become a common sight among athletes. These tape strips in various vibrant colors offer more than just aesthetics. Physiotherapists frequently recommend kinesiology tapes to patients as they can enhance movement and expedite injury recovery. It was in the 1970s when Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor, pioneered the development of the first Kinesio tape. Driven by his desire to create a tape that could support athletes without restricting their range of motion, he revolutionized the field of athletic taping, giving rise to the remarkable kinesiology tapes we know today.
This innovative treatment technique has recently gained immense popularity, captivating gym-goers, athletes, and pregnant women. You can unleash its remarkable therapeutic effects by strategically applying Kinesio tapes in various patterns on specific areas such as the back, knees, abs, shoulders, hips, and more. Join us as we delve into the world of kinesiology taping, exploring its applications and discovering how it can optimize your well-being.
Types of Kinesiology Tape
You can apply kinesio tapes in different ways. Your physiotherapist can also teach you to use the tape and cut the strips into appropriate sizes. Depending on your specific need, you can apply kinesio tapes in the following ways:
- The “X” Strip: You can use this type if you need the tape to cross multiple joints and cover a large area. The tabs cross over sensitive parts like the front of your elbows or the back of your knees. The “X” strip facilitates the hamstrings, which cross your hip joint and the posterior part of your knee joint.
- The “Y” Strip: This type is usually shorter than the “X” strip. It crosses over sensitive body parts, including the front of your elbow and behind your knee. It can help to control the position of your kneecap.
- The “I” Strip: This type supports tendons and ligaments. It facilitates your quadriceps, gluteus muscles, rotator cuff, or Achilles tendon. You can also use it on your middle and lower back to maintain proper posture.
- The “Fan” Strip: This type can control swelling in your arm or leg. You can use it for superficial contusions, swellings, and lymphedema management.
- The “Lift” Strip: This type is also called Band-Aid. You can use it to support injured tissues and treat superficial bruises, muscle knots, and trigger points. It lifts your tissues and skin from sore muscles and triggers points.
Benefits of Kinesiology Tape
Kinesio tapes mimic the elasticity and thickness of your skin, so if you use them appropriately, they will feel like another layer of skin. The consequence of this property is that they do not limit your movement. The following are the benefits of kinesio tape:
- Kinesio tape creates space in joints and improves circulation.
- Kinesio tape reduces swelling and inflammation.
- It stimulates bruise and contusion recovery.
- It reduces the risk of injury.
- It helps in scar Management.
- It is very comfortable.
- It reduces pain.
- Kinesio tape supports injured muscles and enhances muscle recovery.
Kinesio Tape Creates Space in Joints and Improves Circulation
Small joint spaces between bones can make them rub against each other and exert pressure on each other, which can be very painful. Kinesio tapes prevent this by increasing the space in joints such as the knee and shoulder joints. Another importance of this extra space is that it reduces swelling. When you apply tape, there is a change in the pressure gradient of the part beneath the skin, which enhances the flow of blood and fluid.
Kinesio Tape Reduces Swelling and Inflammation
Muscle injuries can lead to swelling and inflammation, which can be painful. Even gym workouts can lead to muscle swelling. Instead of taking anti-inflammatory drugs or pain medications, you can apply kinesio tape, a more holistic approach without side effects. Kinesio tape removes congestion and allows efficient circulation of blood and fluids, leading to the flushing of irritants and reducing inflammation and the buildup of chemicals that lead to swelling. When this happens, there is a speedy recovery.
Furthermore, studies show that kinesio tape reduces swelling and fluid buildup after breast cancer treatment in women.
It Stimulates Bruise and Contusion Recovery
Bruises and contusions occur when tiny capillaries and veins break under your skin, leading to internal bleeding. They can be painful, even though they are usually not severe. Applying kinesio tape lifts your skin and enhances the flow of fluid. This property leads to blood drainage and fresh, oxygenated blood flow to the affected site. The oxygenated blood contains nutrients that will improve healing. All these functions are still linked to your lymphatic system to remove excess fluid and reduce bruises and swelling.
It Reduces the Risk of Injury
Kinesio tapes support your weaker limbs, reducing your risk of injury. Research on the application of kinesio tape in professional dancers led to a fantastic discovery. The study showed that kinesio taping prevents damages incurred in dancing. One crucial factor is that kinesio taping effectively rebuilds muscle strength by improving joint movement and regulating muscle tone. Another factor is that it effectively reduces muscle spasms by enhancing the circulation of fresh blood to overused and tired muscles.
It Helps in Scar Management
You can apply kinesio tape around closed scars to improve their aesthetics and flexibility. Spots that appear after an injury can interrupt your skin’s layers and affect the contraction and stretching properties of the surrounding tissues. This interruption affects the range of motion in the affected area. Taping over and around them has a massaging effect on the layers of the scar, which helps to align the tissues affected in and around the associated areas.
It Is Very Comfortable
Braces and wraps are other methods for treating muscle injuries. However, these can be uncomfortable because they usually don’t fit right. Unlike them, kinesio tape is very comfortable. You can apply the tape and leave it on your skin for a few days without even noticing that something foreign is on your body. Furthermore, they offer a wide range of motion, essential for athletes. You can still do your regular exercise routines even with the tape on. Rest assured that it will not detach with movement, as its design ensures it sticks and moves with you.
It Reduces Pain
One of the essential uses of kinesio tape is for treating musculoskeletal pain conditions, including shin splints, tennis elbow, back pain, ankle sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc. Applying the tape on the skin over the affected joint, muscle, or soft tissue activates certain nerve endings in your skin that detect motion and joint position. When signals from these nerves reach the spinal cord, they prevent signals from injured tissues from reaching the brain.
Kinesio Tape Supports Injured Muscles and Enhances Muscle Recovery
Fatigued and overused muscles can lead to limited mobility. You can apply Kinesio tape to support the injured muscle without limiting movement. You can also speed up the recovery process and return to the game using Kinesio tape. The elastic property of the tape can stimulate the removal of lactic acid from the affected muscle and speed up your recovery. Furthermore, it can boost your performance.
When Not to Use Kinesiology Tape
Although kinesio tape can have miraculous effects on your body and relieve pain and improve circulation, it is advisable not to use it under certain conditions. These include:
- Open Wound: Open wounds increase your risk of infection and can cause long-term damage to your skin.
- Diabetes: Diabetes can reduce sensation in some parts of your body, making you unaware if there is a reaction to the Kinesio tape.
- Fragile Skin: Fragile skin is prone to tearing when applying tape.
- Allergy: Kinesio tape can trigger a strong response if you have adhesive allergies.
- Cancer: Kinesio tape improves circulation, and this can be dangerous when blood flow to a cancerous growth increases.
- Removed Lymph Nodes: When blood flow increases to an area with a removed lymph node, it can lead to swelling.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis: Increasing blood flow can dislodge blood clots, which can be extremely dangerous.
Kinesiology tapes are essential in more ways than you can imagine. They offer benefits not limited to pain relief and improvement of blood circulation. Most of the benefits of kinesio tape involve its ability to lift the skin and allow better circulation. Furthermore, with their high elasticity and thickness that mimics your skin, you can rest assured that kinesiology tapes will never limit your movement whenever you apply them. Thus, you are free to exert your abilities without worries of limits.
Contact us at Hampton Adams to purchase your versatile and high-quality kinesio tapes today.
