What is Kinesio Tape and How Can It Help You?

What is Kinesio Tape?

Kinesio Tape is a specialized adhesive bandage that is very stretchy, in comparison to other medical tapes and bandages, which allows it to move with your skin and prevents it from interfering with your range of motion. It’s water resistant and can typically be counted on to stay in place for 3 to 5 days after application. It’s also highly elastic, so when it’s applied, it lightly pulls your skin up and away from the tissues below, creating a small gap. 

This gap provides numerous benefits including:

• Improved blood/lymphatic flow, which can promote healing

• Alteration of nervous system signals, which can reduce muscle tension

• Activation of muscles, which can help “train” muscles so they contribute to proper movement

• Creation of space in joints, which can help alleviate swelling and pain

Depending on your specific needs, Kinesio tape can be useful to help recover from injuries, correct dysfunctional movement, and provide performance enhancement. For example, you may try using it to address chronic muscle tightness. Athletes looking for a competitive edge frequently use kinesio tape during competitions to alleviate fatigue and reduce stress on joints and overused muscles. 

Research on the efficacy of Kinesio tape isn’t 100% conclusive, but one consensus has emerged: It’s best to use it in conjunction with more conventional treatments in order to achieve optimal results. There are some circumstances when taping shouldn’t occur, such as when there are open wounds in the area to be treated, or if you discover that you have an allergy to the adhesives in the tape. 

Can I apply it Myself?

For best results, you’ll want to have a professional such as your physical therapist apply your Kinesio tape. There are tutorials online, but trying to follow them could lead to mixed results – you might wind up convinced it doesn’t work because you haven’t applied the tape correctly!

But applied properly, and used in conjunction with other treatments, you may find that Kinesio tape is a powerful contributor to your wellbeing and an effective tool to keep you moving pain free.

It’s time to train smarter. Secure your spot today.