Kinesio Tape – Helps Injured Athletes Recover Fast
Kinesio tape is a therapeutic tape made from cotton and elastic. It was developed by a Japanese doctor named Dr. Kenzo Kase in the 1970s to help patients with pain and swelling due to injuries like muscle strains, sprains, and tendonitis. The tape has been widely used by injured athletes in the sporting industry as well as in hospitals and clinics in Japan ever since it was first introduced into the market more than three decades ago.
What is the Kinesio tape?
Kinesio tape is a type of elastic therapeutic tape that is used primarily to treat injuries and muscular pain, both of which are common problems among athletes. Kinesio tape is commonly used as an alternative to other types of supportive taping techniques such as strapping and bracing.
How does Kinesio tape work?
Kinesio taping involves the application of a thin layer of special elastic therapeutic tape to the skin overlying the muscles or joints. The benefits are derived from two main mechanisms:
- 1The stimulation provided by the tape increases blood flow to the affected area, which in turn helps promote healing. This process has been shown in studies using ultrasound imaging (the ‘micro-massage’ effect) and Doppler ultrasound (a technique that measures blood flow).
- 2The tape lifts the skin up and away from underlying tissue, thereby reducing friction between skin and muscle or tendon/ligament.
Kinesio taping has been used successfully for many years by therapists, athletes, and coaches around the world for a wide variety of applications.
Why do athletes use Kinesio tape?
Kinesio tape has become popular among athletes because it can be used for both prevention and treatment purposes. It's also used to help increase blood flow and reduce swelling.
Kinesio tape for protection and support
The most common use of Kinesio tape is for protection (also called "pre-habilitation"). This means that the tape is applied before competition or practice to prevent injury from occurring during the activity. For example, if you're an athlete who suffers from patellar tendonitis or iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), you may want to wrap this tape on your knees or hips before practice or competition. This can prevent further injuries from occurring during your workout session. Furthermore, the lifting action of Kinesio tape also reduces muscle fatigue by allowing better circulation through your muscles. Indeed, the improved circulation reduces lactic acid buildup which causes soreness after rigorous physical activities.
Kinesio tape to help with rehabilitation
Kinesio tape can be used to help with rehabilitation. Furthermore, it's also been shown to help athletes train harder and recover faster. It's often used by injured athletes who are recovering from an injury or surgery. The tape can be applied directly over the injured tissue, which helps to reduce pain and inflammation while promoting healing. It also provides additional support for muscles around the injury site, helping them stay strong while they heal. Lymphatic drainage improves as well because the lymphatic fluid has more room to travel out of the injured area through larger channels created by lifting the skin away from the muscle tissue below. Also, muscle spasms decrease because less pressure is placed on nerves when there is more room between soft tissue layers in an injured part of the muscle.
Kinesio tape to decrease pain
Kinesio tape is a common form of compression that decreases and dissipates pain. The gentle pressure allows for round-the-clock relief from pain.
Are there side effects to using Kinesio tape?
As a medical device, Kinesio taping has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is considered noninvasive, which means it does not use needles or any other invasive techniques to treat patients. However, like any other type of sports medicine equipment, there are some risks associated with using this type of product. However, these risks are usually short-term, and they should only last for a few days at most. The most common side effects include skin irritation, inflammation, and redness.
Conclusion
Kinesio taping helps injured athletes achieve their greatest potential and return to play safely. It has been used widely by many great athletes, including professional football players and Olympians. Using Kinesio tape on a regular basis can help you recover from major injuries as well as minor ones. It helps promote healing by providing support to the muscles and joints, improving circulation, and decreasing the pain associated with injury. It has many applications for athletes, but it also has research to back them up. In conclusion, Kinesio tape does work and can be used by any athlete no matter what sport they play.