What is Kinesiology Tape and How Does it Work?

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Kinesiology tape was developed in the 1970’s by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a chiropractor who wanted to maximize the effectiveness of his treatments between patient treatments.  He designed the tape to have almost identical thickness and elasticity of the upper layer of the skin, allowing it to move with your body without slipping. The tape lifts the skin away from swollen tissue, creating a vacuum in the sub-dermal layer of skin that increases circulation and neural communication by relieving pressure on veins, lymphatic system and nerves. The increased circulation aids in the bodies natural healing process helping to shorten the duration of injury. 

Kinesiology tape also provides benefits on a sensorineural level. When the dermis is pulled away from the swollen tissue, it lessens the pressure on nerves, allowing for normal communication to happen between the area of injury. This can often lead to an increased level of proprioception, the bodies ability to sense the position, location, orientation and movement of the injured area. For athletes, this is especially important as it may help them to perform at higher levels. Kinesiology tape remained relatively unknown prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics when it exploded onto the scene with the help of United States women's volleyball player Kerri Walsh, who used the tape extensively while recovering from a rotator cuff injury. Using kinesiology tape can aid in rehabilitation, maintaining joint and muscle alignment, pain relief and athletic performance. The benefits tape is not limited to athletes, as it can also be used to alleviate pain and swelling on the job site or even during pregnancy.

The tape is applied differently according to the injury. For muscles that are injured or overused, the tape applied without tension. The tape begins at the tendons that hold the muscle to bone and is extended toward the origin of the muscle. If there is a chronically injured or weakened muscle, the tape is applied with light tension. The tape begins at the origin of the muscle and extends toward the tendon. By altering the tension and location of the taping, kinesiology tape can treat many conditions effectively. The key to the versatility of kinesiology tape is in its design. The tape is waterproof, meaning that the adhesive used to anchor it to the skin will not deteriorate while sweating or even in a pool or shower. Kinesiology tape is designed to stay anchored for up to five days and comes off without leaving any residue from the adhesive. The tape is also latex and drug free, offering a healthy option for pain relief. It is made 100% cotton, making the tape hypoallergenic and breathable. Mirror Lake Chiropractic carries SpiderTech brand kinesiology tape. SpiderTech offers a variety of products that are pre-cut to fit a certain injury or body part and it also comes in rolls that are then cut and applied. SpiderTechs' website, spidertech.com, offers videos detailing the proper application of their products. 

References:
Physioworks: http://physioworks.com.au/Injuries-Conditions/Treatments/Kinesiology_Taping
How Stuff Works: http://science.howstuffworks.com/kinesiology-tape.htm
SpiderTech: http://spidertech.com

Tim Bryan
St. Lawrence University '15
Mirror Lake Chiropractic Intern

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