Kinesiotaping

(Shown is an example of kinesiotaping for a rolled forward shoulder)

Kinesiotaping:  Kinesiotaping has been used for years to aid in the healing of injured muscles and joints.  Although the tape resembles basic athletic tape it has a completely different affect.  Athletic tape is used to constrict and immobilize the movements of a muscle or joint.  Kinesiotape, on the other hand, aims to give free range of motion in order to allow the body’s muscular system to heal itself bio-mechanically.  It does so by activating the neurological and circulatory systems. Let’s break this down a little bit.  When a muscle is injured it becomes swollen and painful.  The space between the skin and the muscle is decreased from the swelling and lymphatic fluid pools in the area.  This compresses the pain receptors beneath the skin which in turn communicates “discomfort signals.”  The kinesiotape alleviates those problems.  The tape is designed with an elastic property that when applied causes convolutions or wrinkles in the skin below.  This allows pathways for lymphatic fluid to be flushed away and blood to enter in every time you move your body.  Kinesiotape also has the amazing benefit of reducing spasm in hypertonic muscles.  When applied to a stretched muscle the tape creates a slight pull in the opposite direction of muscle contraction.  This proprioceptive input will inhibit spasms and muscle tone.  The tape has a very strong adhesive, which very seldom has an allergic reaction with patients.  Typically it stays on for 3-5 days after the taping and patients can shower or bath as normal.