Chiropractic + Wellness

You may have seen professional athletes, dancers, gymnasts, and others who engage in extremely physical activities using a type of tape on various points of their bodies. It is sometimes colored and does not seem to inhibit range of motion. While it looks like tape or maybe a very fancy bandage, it is actually a highly technical, specialized tape that is used to treat patients of all ages and activity levels. It is called Kinesio tape, and it is often used by chiropractors to help address specific injuries.

What is Kinesio Tape?

Also called Kinesio Tex Tape, Kinesio Tape is a special adhesive tape that has elastic properties. It was developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a chiropractor, and acupuncturist, in 1979. It is safe for all ages including pediatric and geriatric patients. The tape is comprised of a 100% cotton fiber strip with medical grade acrylic adhesive. It is soft and gentle, but it works.

The tape is hypoallergenic and latex free, so it is appropriate for a vast audience. It is also water resistant, making it wearable for many activities. When worn, the tape does not limit or inhibit range of motion, and the same tape can be worn for several days without losing its effectiveness.

How does Kinesio Tape Work?

The tape can stimulate or relax muscles, depending on the tension that it puts on the body when applied. When worn, it lifts the skin by microscopic increments which aids in lymphatic drainage.

It also helps to decrease inflammation and swelling which reduces pressure in the area. This allows the blood and lymphatic fluid to flow freer and more effectively in and out of the affected area.

When used correctly, Kinesio Tape can reduce inflammation, promote better circulation, prevent injury, facilitate healing, the re-educate the neuromuscular system. This helps the body return to homeostasis. It can be applied in many different configurations, but often the applications are a single “I,” “Y,” or “X.”

The Kinesio Taping Method

The Kinesio taping method is a systematic, therapeutic technique that offers a two-prong approach of supporting the patient and rehabilitating the condition or affected area. It can alleviate pain reduce swelling, providing relief to the patient. There are specific taping shapes that are specialized to address particular areas of the body as well as specific conditions. While it allows for stability and support to the body’s joints and muscles, it does not restrict the range of motion. The technique is designed to address soft tissue injury by manipulating that area and facilitating healing.

What Conditions is Kinesio Taping used to Treat?

Many conditions throughout the body can benefit from Kinesio Taping. Chiropractors use it for:

• Lower back strain
• Plantar fasciitis
• Back Strain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Rotator cuff injury
• Ankle Sprains
• Whiplash
• Herniated disc
• Post-surgery edema
• Tennis elbow
• Pre-surgery edema
• Patella tracking

Athletes may also use it for additional support or to prevent injury. Because it relies on the body’s own natural healing process, many people find it to be preferred treatment for many painful conditions. When combined with chiropractic care, Kinesio Tape is very effective.

When treating a condition with Kinesio Tape, the chiropractor may use a variety of techniques, depending on the illness or injury. They may use spinal manipulation, massage, and other treatments, combining them with recommendations for lifestyle changes and diet modifications.

The draw for this treatment is that it encourages the body to heal itself, eliminating the need for drugs with their undesired and unpleasant side effects, or more invasive procedures like surgery. Kinesio Taping is safe, natural, and a perfect complement to chiropractic care.

Ankle Sprain Chiropractic Treatment

Though the most visible kinesiology tape users might be professional athletes, Olympians, or weekend warriors – a much smaller clientele is also proving the advantages of this unique treatment. With a special line designed for sensitive skin and playful prints and colors that will speak to the sticker and Band-Aid loving child, it’s not surprising that kinesiology tape is quickly becoming more than an athlete’s aid.

While the uses and applications of kinesiology tape for pediatric treatment are growing daily, here is a quick run down of how kinesiology tape is being used in pediatric care today:

PAIN AND SWELLING RELIEF

– When kinesiology tape is applied to an injured or inflamed area, children can enjoy some relief without having to take pain medication or sit through icing and therapy treatments.

ORTHOPEDIC TREATMENT

– Children often don’t understand the purpose behind rehabilitation exercises, so kinesiology tape provides an additional or alternative treatment for children with orthopedic injuries, weak or underdeveloped muscles, gait abnormalities, paralysis – even poor posture.

NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS

– Kinesiology tape has proven effective to activate weak muscles and inhibit overactive muscles.  With a simple and safe taping application, children suffering from neuromuscular conditions like cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy could see improvements in symptoms and movement ability. It has also been shown to improve muscle tone in genetic disorders like Downs Syndrome and other conditions causing either spasticity, atrophy or poor muscle tone.

For children dealing with serious medical conditions, a colorful and painless treatment that can be worn for several days, even while playing and bathing, can make a big difference in their comfort level.

Interested in learning more about pediatric kinesiology taping? Dr. Kenzo Kaze, the creator of Kinesio Tape, provides step by step guidelines for taping infants and children in his manual, Kinesio Taping in Pediatrics available at Theratape.com.

For a list of successful case studies where kinesiology tape has provided improvement for children, check out Theratape’s research compilation as well as this case report (pdf) from Novel Physiotherapies. Hopefully, as more and more case studies document positive results, the use of kinesiology tape in pediatric care will continue to expand and increase.