Kinesio Tape: What It Is and What It Does

KINESIO TAPE: HOW DOES IT WORK?

We are often asked what exactly Kinesio Tape is and what does it do? Kinesio Tape, also known as kinesiology tape, kinetic tape and others is mainly used for muscle support and can also aid pain relief.

Even if you do not know what the tape is, most sports fans will have seen it widely used over the last few years. Athletes from a range of sports are regularly seen with the bright coloured tapes anywhere from their thighs, shoulders and backs. The world of Football, Rugby, Tennis and Athletics seem to have adopted kinesio tape as their treatment of choice. Many use the tape as a preventative measure due to the way it works.

When a muscle is swollen, the area between the skin and the muscle becomes compressed, in turn this compression restricts the flow of lymphatic fluid resulting in pain and discomfort. Used widely in the sports and leisure industry, kinesio tape will lift the skin in order to ease pain and help against muscle inflammation.

In addition to this the lifting of the skin and muscles can enhance circulation and lymphatic drainage. There are correct application methods which need to be followed in order for the tape to successful including stretching the tape and muscles prior to the tape being applied due to the wrinkling effect that occurs when the skin is taped and in normal position. We provide a handy “How To” guide to help you with the application process.

As the body moves around, the kinesiology tape functions as a pump which continually stimulates lymphatic circulation. As this stimulation relieves localised pressure on the pain receptors, you will find muscle pain should be reduced.

There are many ways this tape can aid injuries whether sports related or not. These include:

• Relieving pain
• Supporting muscles in movement
• Removing lymphatic fluid congestion
• Correcting joint misalignment
• Assisting in positioning a muscle or joint into proper position for rehabilitation
• Assisting a weak muscle by placing it in a normal position
• Improving kinesthetic awareness of posture and alignment

Kinesiology, the science behind muscular and skeletal movement inspired Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor to develop what we now know as Kenisio Tape. Dr. Kase lists the following as the four major functions of the tape:

• Supporting the muscle — Proper taping improves the muscle’s ability to contract even when it’s weakened, reduces a feeling of pain and fatigue, and protects the muscle from cramping, over-extension and over-contraction.
• Removing congestion to the flow of body fluids— Kinesiology tape improves blood and lymphatic circulation and reduces inflammation and excess chemical buildup in the tissue.
• Activating the endogenous analgesic system — “Endogenous” refers to something that is self-originating, and calling something “analgesic” means that it can relieve pain in a conscious person. So, this requirement means that the tape must facilitate the body’s own healing mechanisms, a central focus in chiropractic medicine.
• Correcting joint problems — The goal is improving range of motion and adjusting misalignments that result from tightened muscles.

To ensure a full range of motion for the wearer, Kinesio Tape is very thin and made with a porous cotton fabric. The fabric lets the skin breathe and has an elasticity comparable to that of the skin and muscles. The sticky side of the tape uses a water-repellent, medical-grade acrylic adhesive that further supports the muscles and connective tissues. In addition, the tape can stay put for three to four days even through sweating and showering.

You can view our Kinesio Tape here.

More Information on Kinesio Tape.