Kinesiology is the study of movement, which is where kinesio taping gets its name. Kinesio tape is a thin, flexible tape used to aid muscle movement, relieve pain, inflammation and swelling, and support the surrounding joints and muscles.
Originally, professional athletes primarily used kinesio taping, but there are now many uses, especially in physiotherapy. While typically associated with the treatment of injuries, kinesio tape is also useful for people suffering the effects of bad posture or any joint and muscle pain.
How does kinesio taping work?
Many people have a misconception that kinesio tape is just used to support joints. While it certainly does do this, many sportspeople would still use traditional sports taping for stability issues. Kinesio tape is more flexible and works to improve blood flow to an affected area.
When applying kinesio tape, patients should experience improved blood flow to the area in question, which helps to speed up the recovery time. More blood flow also means more oxygen, which helps to reduce inflammation and swelling.
When used during strenuous activity such as sports and exercise, kinesiology tape also helps the lymphatic system drain waste such as lactic acid, which builds up when your muscles work hard. Interestingly, this unique type of sports tape also slightly lifts the skin, which creates more room for swollen muscles.
The difference between kinesio taping and sports taping
While athletes may choose to use both kinesiology and traditional sports tape, they perform slightly different functions. Sports tape is primarily used to restrict movement, therefore providing support to joints, muscles and tendons. Traditional sports taping helps protect certain body parts, whereas kinesio taping has a stronger focus on recovery.
Being more flexible, Kinesio taping encourages safe movement rather than restricting it. It also encourages blood flow, which helps the body repair more quickly. As such, physiotherapists recommend kinesio taping in many circumstances, particularly during rehab and recovery exercises.
Kinesio taping with MGS Physiotherapy
It’s important to remember that not all injuries and conditions can be helped by the use of kinesio taping. During your initial consultation with us, your skilled physiotherapist will learn more about your issue before recommending treatment. We develop tailored treatment plans depending on your needs, so don’t worry, we won’t just tape you up and send you on your way.
In reality, kinesio taping may only form a small part of your treatment plan, but it is very dependent on your type of injury or condition. If you’re a sportsperson or otherwise quite active, your physio will encourage you to use kinesio tape during physical activity. You’ll learn how to apply the tape correctly to the affected area so that you can always be prepared.
Get the right diagnosis
When treating any injury, the right diagnosis is crucial before you start treatment. Our skilled and experienced physiotherapists conduct a range of assessments relevant to your injury and condition. We strongly emphasise correctly diagnosing your issues because the wrong type of treatment can have negative effects.
If you ignore symptoms or mistakenly self-diagnose an injury, you risk potentially doing more damage or injury recurrence. This is why making an appointment with your trusted physiotherapist is always preferred to ensure we can quickly assess your injury and begin preparing a treatment plan.
We’ll have you back to fitness fast
We prioritise your health and well-being at MGS Physiotherapy, and that also means getting you back to doing the things you love quickly. Nobody wants to be out of action for long, and that’s why we devise treatment plans to aid your quick recovery. Kinesio taping is often part of this because it allows you to complete rehabilitation exercises safely.
All exercises should be completed as instructed by your physiotherapist, but kinesio tape certainly helps to reduce pain and inflammation. This means you can return to your chosen activities sooner, often still wearing kinesio tape to improve blood flow and reduce while recovering.
Don’t mask your injuries
Here at MGS Physiotherapy, we want you to live the fullest life possible. There is a risk that certain treatments, especially those for pain and inflammation, actually mask the underlying issue. You may get some pain relief and more freedom of movement, but there could be a more serious condition injury under the surface.
Rather than just giving you temporary relief, our physiotherapists go the extra mile to get to the bottom of your injury. This way, we can treat the cause of your pain, not just the symptoms. Kinesio tape is excellent for allowing more movement while recovering from an injury, but it should never be seen as a cure-all. Only use kinesio taping as directed by your physiotherapist, and if the pain persists beyond a couple of days, you should seek medical advice.
If you’d like to know more about how kinesio taping can help you get back on your feet faster, contact the team at MGS Physiotherapy today.