You’ve likely seen the bright colored tape worn by elite athletes. While some folks think it looks cool, it isn’t a fashion statement. The colored strips are used for the Kinesio Taping® Method, a rehabilitative taping technique designed to support the muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion.
Developed more than 25 years ago by Dr. Kenzo Kase, Kinesio Taping® has been shown to:
- Reduce Pain
- Enhance Performance
- Prevent Injury
- Promote Improved Circulation and Healing
- Re-educate the Neuro-Muscular System
You can’t just slap on the tape. Practitioners must undergo specific training to learn when Kinesio Taping® will be effective and proper placement of the tape.
“Kinesio Taping can assist with not only the range of motion, but also strength. With any joint, when a muscle is over or under activating, the tape will specifically target muscles,” said Nichole Greening, a certified athletic trainer at ATI
In addition to sports performance, Kinesio Taping® is also very relevant in pain management and physical therapy. According to Chris Deschand, a licensed physical therapist assistant at the ATI Bourbonnais clinic, it can help physical therapy patients between sessions by prolonging the effects of manual therapy. Chris relayed the story of one patient who suffered back pain due to a fall. He used this method to help relax her spastic back muscles and keep them relaxed after she left the clinic. “This helped her perform her exercises without pain, which enabled her to recover more quickly,” said Chris.