Did you injure yourself recently and are unable to move about as freely as you once did before?
If you answered yes, you should know that you can benefit from kinesiology taping therapy. Don’t underestimate this special tape. It can not only help you improve mobility, but also ease pain in your joints, muscles and tendons.
The therapy involves the strategic placement of strips on the body in specific directions that enhance mobility and support muscles, tendons and joints. It was developed in the 1970s by Dr. Kenso Kase who discovered that flexible tape can be used to make a gap between the skin and muscles for long lasting effects for patients. His brand of tape called Kinesiotape is still used today.
How Kinesio Taping Works
How Kinesio Taping Works
Kinesio taping is a technique that is designed to work with and trigger the body’s natural healing processes. The procedure stabilizes muscles and joints and it can also be used to reduce inflammation, relax overused muscles and reduce pain.
Theoretically, the way kinesio taping works is simple. Strips of the tape are placed in specific directions on the body. Once the strips are applied, they recoil a bit, pulling the upper layers of the skin to create a gap between the dermis and the muscle. The technique relieves pressure on the lymph channels, which in turn enhances lymph flow and drainage in the application area.
The result is a reduction in swelling which is what makes this therapy especially beneficial for ankle sprains. The space that lies between the muscle and the dermis are filled with nerve receptors that send information straight to the brain. When this space is compressed, the receptors keep providing that information, but also information on pain, cold, touch and heat.
The brain then sends signals to the body instructing it on how to react to stimulus. In theory, the kinesio tape ‘reminds’ the brain about certain body positions that can aid the healing process. It does this by:
- Enhancing interactions between the skin and the underlying structures.
- Impeding pain pathways in the joints, muscles and skin.
While the jury is still out on whether or not kinesiotaping works the way it says that it works, we do know for certain that the effect on movement is positive and can reduce the perception of pain.
If you’re looking for experienced and professional physios for kinesio taping in Bergen county, look no further than Next Level Physio. We can also teach you about the tape and how to administer it for sports.
