Have you ever noticed athletes wearing different colored tape on their backs, legs, and arms? Did you know that those strips of tape are placed on certain muscles for a reason? This technique is known as Kinesio taping.
Kinesio Tex tape is made of 100% elastic fibers that are latex free. You may notice a wave-like pattern on the strips, which is purposely put on the tape to mimic fingerprints and allow the tape to breathe.
Kinesio Taping gives support and stability to your joints without affecting range of motion by increasing or decreasing muscle contraction.
When taping a patient, physical therapists take many things into account, including muscle groups, joints, skin integrity, and stability of body structures. Kinesio tape is a great resource for athletes wanting the stability of a brace but the flexibility of the tape.
However, as great as Kinesio tape can be, it’s important to keep in mind that Kinesio tape isn’t a fix-all; it’s more like a Band-aid during a competition or event. Other therapeutic techniques and visits with your physical therapist are important to maintain healing and progressions to prior levels of function.
Besides being great for athletes, Kinesio tape has also been proven useful in managing lower-back pain, neck pain, headaches, and many other issues. After certain therapeutic treatments, kinesio tape can help improve muscle contraction to create support, or help decrease muscle spasms to help keep pain managed.
There are lots of other uses for Kinesio tape and our skilled physical therapists can help you figure out which technique is most beneficial for you and your lifestyle.
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