Why K-Tape
Kinesio taping (K-taping for short) has become an increasingly popular therapy in the sports medicine world due to it’s quick and easy application as well as it’s flashy designs. You have likely seen many of your favorite athletes sporting this taping method as it has become a staple in athletic training rooms across the world. K-taping is often used at Portland Backsmith to support optimal posture, reduce swelling, and prevent muscles from over-contracting or over-extending.
How It Works and What to Expect
Most kinesio tape is made up of a mixture of cotton/synthetic fibers, adhesive, and elastic cores. The design of k-tape allows it to be applied to the skin with a stretch, which in turn provides a lifting effect and may aid in reducing pressure to injured tissue. K-tape has also been shown to help reduce muscle fatigue in the low back and can improve core muscular coordination1. It can also provide immediate pain relief with many different conditions as well as improving mobility and function2. K-tape only takes ~1-2min to apply and can be kept adhered to the skin for up to 5 days. K-tape is widely known as a low-risk and non-invasive therapy but individuals with sensitive skin should be cautious.
Treatable Conditions
There are many different conditions that can benefit from k-tape and the literature has proven it to be especially effective in some specific situations. There are few known contraindications or side effects so it is commonly used in conjunction with other therapies. K-tape has demonstrated benefits pre-surgically, post-surgically, as a substitute for surgery, in acute injury, and in chronic injury. Conditions that have been studied and are thought to be positively affected by Kinesio tape include:
Neck pain
Low back Pain
Knee pain
Sports injuries
Postural correction
Sprains and strains
Carpal tunnel syndrome
TMJ disorders
Shoulder tendinopathies
Plantar Fasciitis
Headaches
References:
Álvarez-Álvarez, San José, F. García-Muroa; Rodríguez-Fernández, Güeita-Rodríguez, Waller (2014) Effects of Kinesio Tape in low back muscle fatigue: Randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial on healthy subjects. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 27 (2), 203-212.
Adelaida María, Inmaculada Carmen Lara-Palomo, Guillermo A. Matarán- Peñarrocha, Manuel Fernández-Sánchez, Nuria Sánchez-Labraca Manuel Arroyo-Morales (2012) Kinesio Taping reduces disability and pain slightly in chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy, Volume 58, Issue 3, September 2012, Pages 143