Med1Care Therapy Partner’s physical therapists specialize in kinesio taping. Kinesio taping provides support for an array of musculoskeletal conditions.
Kinesio tape is a stretchy blend of cotton and nylon designed to mimic the skin’s elasticity. When applied to problem areas, the tape lightly lifts the skin away from underlying muscles, possibly reducing pain signals to the brain.
Kinesio taping supports a full range of motion and is durable enough to stay in place for three or more days, even during athletic activities and showers.
What does Kinesio taping do?
Kinesio taping provides pain relief by helping with muscle support, muscle tone, lymphatic fluid movement, correct movement patterns, improved posture, improved circulation, reduced swelling, reduced joint irritation, improved performance and injury prevention.
Conditions treated with kinesio taping include:
- Achilles tendonitis
- After care for breast cancer
- External outlet impingement
- Gait issues caused by stroke
- Head and neck posture
- IT band friction syndrome
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Knee replacement
- Patellofemoral stress syndrome
- Rotator cuff tendonitis
- Scarring
- Shoulder impingement
- Subacromial impingement
Kinesio taping is not permanent. It’s a short-term solution to assist in healing and strength-building.
How We Can Help
Med1Care Therapy Partner’s experienced therapists are trained in using kinesio taping to help improve your mobility, decrease pain and regain quality of life.
A licensed physical therapist will come to your home in Toledo, Findlay or any of the 26 counties we service. The therapist will evaluate your need for services, draft a plan and set a schedule that is dedicated to helping you reach your objectives.
Call us at 419.866.0555 to schedule a consultation.
Our specialists will help you chart a course forward.
Kinesio taping should not be used for conditions that include:
- Open wounds, as it may lead to skin damage or infection
- Deep vein thrombosis, as increased fluid flow could dislodge a potentially fatal clot
- Active cancer, as increased blood flow to cancerous areas could be risky
- Lymph node removal, which could cause swelling
- Diabetes, as reduced sensations may not be noticed in the case of a tape reaction
- Adhesive allergy, as the tape may provoke an inflammatory response
- Fragile skin, as the tape may tear it
Various kinesio taping patterns are used to support different problems. Your physical therapist will teach you the proper way to tape for your condition. Patterns of taping include X, Y, I and fan patterns. Decompression strips and stabilization strips may also be necessary.
- Clean and dry the area
- Trim excess hair (fine hair is okay, but thick hair may hinder gripping)
- Tear the backing paper in the middle
- Cut rounded corners on the strip to reduce snagging and improve tape life
- Don’t touch the adhesive side of the tape, to improve tape life
- Remember not to stretch the final two inches on each end of the tape, as these are place-holders
- Your physical therapist will let you know how much to stretch your tape. For a 75% stretch, fully extend the tape and then reduce a quarter of its length
- Stretch evenly by keeping your full thumb applied across the tape
- Following the application, rub the tape several seconds to activate the glue with friction-created heat
- Full adhesion takes approximately twenty minutes
Follow these steps to remove kinesio tape without damaging the skin:
- Loosen the tape with baby oil, olive oil or the equivalent
- Remove slowly without yanking or pulling up
- Nudge up one end of the strip and press down your skin to break its contact with the tape
- Compress your skin gently while you pull the tape back on itself
- Walk your fingers under the tape
- If the skin is irritated, do not re-apply it before consulting a physical therapist