What Is Kinesio Tape?
The Kinesio taping method is a therapeutic tool used by rehabilitation specialists in a variety of programs, including pediatric, geriatric, orthopedic, neurological, and oncology, as well as various levels of care, such as acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, and home care.
What Are the Types of Kinesio Tape?
There are two types of Kinesio taping methods available for usage. Each clinician can select an appropriate type of tape based on the intended outcome and the client's skin condition.
The following are different tape types:
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Kinesio Tex Classic.
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Kinesio Tex Performance+.
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Kinesio Tex Gold.
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Kinesio Tex Gold Light Touch Plus.
Who Can Be Helped by Kinesiology Taping?
For young athletes with overused or injured muscles or an elderly individual with degenerative joint disease, kinesiology taping can help with any soft-tissue injury or pain.
Kinesiology taping can help:
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Jobs that require physical labor and repeated movements, such as construction workers, manufacturing employees, gardeners, mechanics, miners, and secretaries.
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Individuals who lead sedentary lifestyles.
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Athletes and those physically active, such as cyclists, golfers, and joggers.
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People who suffer from the consequences of improper posture and sleeping habits.
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Sufferers of joint pain.
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People who have been injured in their joints, muscles, or tendons as a result of sickness or an accident.
What Are the Benefits of Kinesio Tapes?
The purpose of kinesiology taping is to increase circulation, support muscles, promote healing, and aid in the prevention of injury.
The following are some of the key advantages:
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Decreases pain.
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Improves posture and muscle support.
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Improves athletic performance.
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Supports endogenous analgesic systems.
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Increases circulation and decreases inflammation.
How Does Kinesio Tape Work?
Inflammation and swelling are caused by the accumulation of blood and other fluids during an injury. The lymphatic system cannot clear excess if there is too much inflammation. In other words, the lymphatic vessels get clogged, preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching the repairing tissues.
When properly placed, KT tape's flexibility softly lifts the skin from the tissues beneath it. This mild lifting of the skin makes room for better blood and lymphatic movement, which helps to relieve pressure and minimize swelling. When blood flow is restored, oxygen and nutrients can better reach damaged tissues, aiding recovery.
As a result, in addition to pain alleviation and inflammation reduction, kinesio tapes have other advantages. In people with neurological diseases, kinesio tapes support injured muscles or joints without compromising the range of motion. It aids muscle healing, avoids cramps or spasms, inhibits overstretching or over-contraction, and improves muscle tone and strength.
How to Apply Kinesio Tapes?
Preparing the Skin:
The skin should be absolutely dry, with no lotions or oils. Apply the tape at least one hour earlier before you want to sweat, swim, or shower. Before putting tape after an exercise, ensure all perspiration has stopped. Using alcohol and hand sanitizer, wipe the entire region. Small amounts of body hair will not affect the tape's effectiveness or stickiness. For optimum results and to reduce pain when the tape is removed, areas with a lot of hair should be trimmed close to the skin.
Preparing and Applying the Tape:
Avoid touching the tape's adhesive side. To activate the adhesive, rub the tape briskly from the center to the ends once it has been applied. If you rub from the ends to the middle, the ends of the rolls may peel away from the skin. Cut the tape with sharp scissors, rounding all corners to prevent premature peeling of the ends. To make an anchor, tear the backing only for about 2 to 3" from one end to form the initial component to be applied. Apply the anchor end of the tape without stretching it, leaving the remainder of the backing intact. As you apply the tape, continue peeling the backing away in small segments. Removing too much backing at once might cause the tape to stick to itself, ruining the application.
Wearing the Tape:
Wet tape should be carefully patted dry using a towel. The glue is heat-activated and may become difficult to remove if you use a hairdryer. To avoid additional peeling, clip any ends starting to peel with scissors.
Precautions:
Any injured skin surface, such as scrapes, cuts, burns, sunburn, rash, or irritation, should not be treated with kinesiology tape. For sensitive skin, a test piece should be applied for up to 24 hours before a full taping. If skin irritation occurs, remove the tape as soon as possible.
Dealing With Skin Irritation:
Kinesiology tape is made of cotton and has a hypoallergenic acrylic adhesive. It is free of latex and medicines, making it less likely to irritate your skin. However, people with highly sensitive skin may still have a rash, itching, or discomfort.
Removing the Tape:
Remove the tape in the direction of hair development, which is normally away from the center of the body on the trunk and on the arms and legs it is usually downward. To reduce discomfort, pull the tape back while pressing the skin at the end of the taped area. If the tape is still stuck to your skin, soak it in baby oil or olive oil for 5 to 10 minutes before removing it.
What Are the Precautions and Contractions of Kinesio Tape?
General contraindications are:
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Malignancy.
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Infection, cellulitis.
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Open wound.
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DVT.
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Previous allergic reaction to Kinesio Tex Tape.
General precautions are:
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Diabetes.
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Patients receiving dialysis or kidney disease.
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Organ transplants.
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Pregnancy.
Conclusion:
The lymphatic and circulatory systems, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints have benefited from kinesiology taping. Therefore, physical therapists can help you understand how to use this strategy to relieve pain and other orthopedic difficulties. Purchasing a kinesiology tape is highly recommended by doctors and physiotherapists.
