Why Athletes Rave About Kinesiology Tape?

Have you ever noticed athletes competing with colored strips of kinesiology tape on their body?

Who’s Using Kinesiology Tape?

Athletes around the world are part of a growing trend, wearing therapeutic applications of Kinesiology Tape to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, and to relax tired & overused muscles. It is also widely used for stabilizing muscles & joints that have been strained or sprained, and even speeding up recovery from muscle or joint surgery.

International athletes including Serena Williams, Lance Armstrong, Novak Djokovic, Justin Henin, Lleyton Hewitt, David Beckham, and in particular many Olympic Athletes at the 2008 Beijing Olympics use this technology to assist recovery, keeping their bodies in the best shape to perform at their best.

Now 1000’s of Health Professionals, and Sports Trainers across Australia are trained in using Kinesio Tape.

So lets take a closer look at what Kinesiology Tape is, and how it works.

What is Kinesiology Tape?

Kinesiology Tape was first invented back in the 1970’s by Japanese Chiropractor/Acupuncturist, Dr Kenzo Kase. He was looking for a new method of sports taping that would assist in the healing of injured or overused muscles & tissue.

He noticed that standard sports taping methods, using Rigid Strapping Tape, provided excellent joint support, but tended to limit range of movement and did not support the fibrous tissue surrounding the muscle.

He also found in some cases, that regular taping techniques inhibit the healing process of muscles and tissue in this condition.

In 1973, after several years researching into muscle taping, tape elasticity, tape breathe-ability and tape adhesion, he developed a new therapeutic tape and application method, which is now known as Kinesiology Taping.

How Does It Work?

Kinesiology works on a simple philosophy of returning the body, and mind to balanced healthy state. So this taping method works on the body in 3 key areas.

Structurally – Correct Muscle Function & Faster Healing

• Provides great joint support and stability, by restricting harmful range of movement without the harsh end feel of rigid tape.
• Promotes normal muscle activation and function, by helping reduce inflammation and promote proper nerve balance within the affected area.

Neurologically – Inflammation & Pain Reduction

• Decreased perception of pain.
• Promotes peripheral neuroplasticity.
• Stimulation of the skin’s nervous system pathways.

Microcirculatory – Improved Circulation for Improved Healing

• Wave pattern formation.
• Improve flow and function in muscle surrounding tissue.
• Improved lymphatic flow.
• Improved micro blood vessels flow in tissue.

Fast Facts:

• Made from 100% cotton
• A good quality tape should be latex free
• Up to 30-40% elasticity from resting length (applied to only 10% stretch)
• 100% acrylic adhesive that is a medical grade and hypoallergenic
• Kinesio Tape allows the skin to breathe
• Manufactured to be the same weight, thickness and elasticity of the skin
• Allows range of motion and does not restrict like conventional athletic tape
• Elastic properties to help to support and reduce muscle fatigue
• Single application can be worn for 3-5 days without re-application
• Normally 6-10 applications per roll
• Can be bought in application specific pre-cut shapes for easy application to affected areas

More Kinesio Articles

This has been the first article in our Ultimate Guide to Kinesio Taping series, next article I will take a closer look at the “12 Core Principles of Kinesiology Tape Application”.

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