How Can I Benefit From Kinesio Taping Therapy?

Traditional athletic tapes are designed to restrict the movement of affected muscles and joints of your body to quicken the healing process. Kinesio taping therapy has a fundamentally different approach. It is designed to allow your muscles and joints a range of free of motions so that they can heal by themselves thorough natural biomechanical processes. More importantly, it allows you to continue training and engaging in sporting activities despite your injuries.

The Kinesio tape can stretch up to 130 – 140% of its original length. The high elasticity of this adhesive tape gives your muscles much needed support through a range of motions. If properly applied, it can cure a variety of physical injuries and dysfunctions. The main benefits of the therapy are:

• Supports the muscles: The support it provides improves your muscle’s ability to contract, reduces the feeling of pain and prevents muscle cramp, overextension and over-contraction.

• Improves the flow of body fluids: The therapy removes congestion and improves the circulation of blood and other body fluids and thus reduces inflammation and accumulation of excess chemical in the tissues.

• Activates the endogenous analgesic system: “Endogenous analgesic system” roughly means a self-healing system. The therapy activates the biochemical processes inside your body to heal your injuries naturally, which is the aim of chiropractic medicine.

• Corrects joint problems: It improves the movement of joints and adjusts misalignments that occur as a result of injuries and tightened muscles.

For kinesio therapy to work properly, the tape must be applied correctly. Incorrect application of the tape can be harmful to you. Therefore, you should have it done by a Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner (CKTP) only.

According to Dr. Kenzo Kase, who developed the therapy in 1979, the correct ways to apply the taping are:

• For injured and overused muscles: These muscles need relief from pain as well as healing of injury and tightness. The taping should be applied with no tension. Start from the tendons that hold that particular muscle to the bone and extend towards the beginning of the muscle.

• For weakened and chronically injured muscles: These muscles need support and a full range of motion. The taping should be applied with light tension. Start from the beginning of the muscle and extend towards the tendons that hold that particular muscle to the bone.

Kinesio taping therapy has been proven to work and there are many athletes who vouch for it. Originally developed for medicinal purposes, it is now widely used by athletes as a quick and reliable cure for muscle and joint injuries.

If you are interested in kinesio taping therapy, book an appointment at Chiro-Med today. We use Spider-Tech Kinesio tape for a wide range of ailments, including carpal tunnel syndrome, neck and back pain, sprains and headaches.