Kinesiology Tape Benefits

What is Kinesiology Tape?

Kinesiology taping (or Kinesio taping) is applying a thin, stretchy, cotton-based therapeutic tape that can benefit a wide variety of injuries and inflammatory conditions.

Kinesiology tape is almost identical to human skin in both thickness and elasticity, allowing kinesio tape to be worn without binding, constricting, or restricting your movement.

Who Should Use Kinesiology Tape?

Clinically, we use kinesiology tape for treating athletic injuries and a variety of physical disorders. Japanese practitioners were the primary users of the therapeutic kinesiology tape. By 1988 the tape had been adopted by Japanese Olympic and professional athletes before spreading across the world.

Professional athletes use kinesiology taping to improve sporting performance, prevent injury and allow athletes to return to sport quicker.

What is the Difference Between Sports Tape and Kinesiology Tape?

Kinesiology tape differs from other types of strapping tape in both its form and function. Most types of strapping tape are non-elastic and are wrapped firmly around an injured joint or muscle to provide rigid support and restrict movement. For this reason, the rigid strapping tape needs removal after short periods.

Kinesiology tape differs. It has unique elastic properties that allow the kinesiology tape to provide dynamic support. This active support provides an almost second layer of support that may assist weaker muscles. Plus, due to its elastic properties, kinesiology tape allows your body parts full motion to enable a near-normal range of motion.

Kinesiology tape can be worn during intense exercise, in the shower or even swimming. This application longevity means that the tape can potentially guide your movement while you stay active.

What Does the Kinesiology Tape Do?

Kinesiology tape has a comprehensive array of therapeutic benefits. These therapeutic benefits are available to the injured area 24-hours a day.

1. Pain Relief

Kinesiology taping relieves pain through different mechanisms. These could either physical or neurological mechanisms.

• Physically, the kinesiology tape’s lifting action may help relieve pressure on pain receptors directly under the skin. This reduced pressure may provide both short and medium-term pain relief.
• Chronic pain could improve via sensory stimulation of some nerve fibres.

2. Swelling Reduction

• By lifting this skin, kinesiology taping provides a negative pressure under the tape. This vacuum may allow the lymphatic drainage channels to drain swelling and other inflammatory cells away from the injured area.

3. Lymphoedema Reduction

• Based on kinesiology taping’s lift and de-pressuring principle, it may be useful in the reduction of lymphoedema.

4. Reduced Muscle Fatigue, Cramps and DOMS.

• Exercise and repeated muscle contractions produce post-exercise byproducts such as lactic acid. Lactic acid can cause poor muscle performance, fatigue cramping and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
• Kinesiology tape may help remove lactic acid and other exercise byproducts from the region, assisting muscle performance and reducing fatigue, cramps, and DOMS.

5. Assists Weak or Injured Muscles

• Kinesiology tape may provide both physical and neurological support for your dynamic structures, such as muscles. This support may assist everyday activities, high-level sport or potentially low tone children.

6. Quicker Return to Sport, Work and Play

• By supporting weak or painful structures, kinesiology tape may allow injured athletes to return to sport quicker than without dynamic support.

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Related Articles

1. What Conditions May Kinesiology Tape Help? – This article provides a comprehensive overview of various conditions where kinesiology tape could be beneficial, including musculoskeletal and sports injuries​​.
2. Sub-Acute Soft Tissue Injury – It explores the role of kinesiology tape in supporting injured soft tissue, reducing pain, and facilitating movement during the recovery process​​.
3. Can Kinesiology Tape Reduce Swelling? – The application of kinesiology taping may help to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain, increase proprioception, muscular strength, and ROM. Read this article for more info.

4. What Conditions May Kinesiology Tape Help? – Discusses how kinesiology tape can be used to other treatment options for hip and groin pain​​.

5. Benefits of Kinesiology Taping – Provides information on the benefits of kinesiology tape and how it might be used.