Kinesiology taping is ideal for injury prevention and an effective treatment for certain musculoskeletal disorders. Developed in the 1960s by Japanese physician Kenzo Kase, it is now successfully used by sports medicine specialists, rehabilitation specialists and orthopaedic traumatologists worldwide.
What is kinesiotaping
A method of treating and preventing injuries called taping, based on the use of a special elastic band called kinesiotape. The tape is applied to the skin to support the muscles, joints and ligaments without restricting their mobility.
The elastic band (tape) consists of high quality cotton fibre (97 %) and nylon (3 %) to ensure a dense and strong weave. The inner side of the tape shall be coated with an acrylic adhesive. The adhesive side is highly resistant and the tape can stay on the skin for up to seven days, even with intense physical activity and water sports. The tape has the unique property of stretching to an initial length of 30-40 %, which is similar to the elasticity of human skin and muscles. This is why the use of bands is considered one of the most natural therapies.
Thanks to its elasticity, the Kinesiotape gently lifts the skin and creates extra space between the skin and the underlying tissues. This subcutaneous space contains nerve endings, blood and lymph vessels. The tension of the tape has a decompressive effect, improving blood and lymphatic circulation, which helps to speed up the elimination of toxins and breakdown products resulting from the injury. This process helps to reduce pain and speed up recovery.
When kinesiotaping is used
First of all, kinesiology taping is a method used in sports medicine, but taping is not only beneficial for athletes and active people, but also for anyone with musculoskeletal problems.
Properly applied kinesiotherapy strengthens the joint, removes excessive muscle tension and prevents sports injuries during training and activities.
Kinesiotaping is also available for patients with spinal disorders during chiropractic treatment. In this case, the elastic band helps to record the results achieved between chiropractic sessions and increases the effectiveness of the treatment.
Ease, pain relief and improved mobility are experienced immediately after taping.
Methods of taping:
- The band is shaped like a mesh to improve blood circulation. This helps to improve drainage and speeds up the removal of excess fluid.
- For muscle support, the tape is placed along the muscle with a certain level of tension to reduce the tension and prevent further damage.
- For joint adjustments, the tape is applied to the joints to stabilise their position, reducing the risk of injury and ensuring proper function.
Indications for taping
Who should be treated with tapes? The scope of kinesiotapes is quite broad. The main indications for this type of physiotherapy are:
- muscle weakness or hypertonicity;
- muscle pain;
- discomfort when moving around, restriction of mobility;
- soft tissue contusions;
- all types of sports injuries, sprains and strains;
- swelling, haematomas;
- the need to repair the joint after an injury;
- the need to develop and restore the function of upper and lower limb joints after surgery or injury.
Contraindications:
- eczema;
- xeroderma;
- open wounds, trophic ulcers;
- decompensated diabetes mellitus;
- individual intolerance, allergy to acrylic;
- vascular thrombosis.
Kinesiology taping is not used in the first trimester of pregnancy, in the presence of cardiac pathologies and kidney failure. In oncological diseases, taping is not applied at the site of the malignant process.
Benefits of kinesiotaping
Kinesiotaping has many benefits:
- Pain relief after injuries and chronic illnesses.
- Muscle support and joint stabilisation without restricting movement.
- Improving blood and lymphatic circulation, contributing to the improvement of metabolic processes, the elimination of oedema, and the rapid recovery of damaged tissues.
- Reducing rehabilitation time after injuries and surgery.
- Effective help in correcting posture and movement patterns.
- Easy to use and no discomfort.
- Effective and natural injury prevention during intense exercise.
- There are no systemic side-effects, making kinesiotaping suitable for long-term use.
You can make an appointment for a consultation with a specialist for taping treatment using the appointment form on the My Clinic website or by calling the phone number provided.
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