One of the most frequently asked questions I receive in my clinic is "What is that colored tape the athletes are wearing in the Olympics?" Well the answer is Kinesio tape. It was developed by a doctor in Japan named Dr. Kenzo Kase over 35 years ago. The tape is applied over and around muscles and joints in order to strengthen and give support while maintaining full range of motion.So how does it actually work? That question has a three part answer.First there is the circulation component. Muscles are constantly contracting within a normal range of motion. When a muscle is over extended and over contracted it cannot recover and in turn inflammation is created. When a muscle is inflamed and stiff, the space between the skin and muscle is compressed. This results in blockage of lymphatic fluid, which leads to swelling in the muscle or joint. When Kinesio tape properly applied, it will create a space between the skin and the fascia which in turn increases blood flow, thus reducing inflammation and accelerates the healing process.The second part involves the neurological component. The compression previously mentioned creates pressure on the pain receptors (nociceptors) beneath the skin, which in turn communicates discomfort or pain signals to the brain. The Kinesio tape works by stimulating the mechanoreceptors in the joint which override the nociceptors and in turn kills the pain. If you remember a coach or your parent saying walk it off or rub it out when you hit your hand or elbow, this is the same concept. A continuous sensory stimulation allows for changes in the peripheral and central nervous system. This in turn blocks the pain receptors from firing.The third component to address is range of motion. Muscle and joints are injured when they are taken beyond the normal physiological range of motion. Kinesio tape helps to keep the joint or muscle from going beyond its normal range of motion. By keeping the muscle or joint in this normal range of motion, the chance of re-injury is reduced and the healing process is accelerated. Continued motion of an injured joint during the healing process helps reduce the formation of scar tissue in the fascia. Blood flow is accelerated which helps supply the tissue with the proper nutrients needed for healing.There is one other question that comes up often and that is "How is Kinesio tape different from conventional athletic tape". Conventional athletic tape is designed to restrict the movement of the affected muscles and joints. For this purpose several layers of Tape must be rolled around and over the affected area, applying significant pressure. This pressure results in the obstruction of lymphatic flow, an undesirable side-affect. This is the reason athletic tape is generally applied immediately before sports activity, and removed immediately after the activity is finished. In contrast, Kinesio taping is based on a philosophy that allows free range of motion to encourage the body's muscular system to heal itself bio-mechanically. To ensure that the muscles have free range of motion, tape with an elasticity of 130-140% of its original length is used for Kinesio taping. This specific elasticity will not allow an over stretch of the muscles themselves. It may look like conventional athletic tape, but Kinesio tape is fundamentally different.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Kinseo Tape and How It Works
One of the most frequently asked questions I receive in my clinic is "What is that colored tape the athletes are wearing in the Olympics?" Well the answer is Kinesio tape. It was developed by a doctor in Japan named Dr. Kenzo Kase over 35 years ago. The tape is applied over and around muscles and joints in order to strengthen and give support while maintaining full range of motion.So how does it actually work? That question has a three part answer.First there is the circulation component. Muscles are constantly contracting within a normal range of motion. When a muscle is over extended and over contracted it cannot recover and in turn inflammation is created. When a muscle is inflamed and stiff, the space between the skin and muscle is compressed. This results in blockage of lymphatic fluid, which leads to swelling in the muscle or joint. When Kinesio tape properly applied, it will create a space between the skin and the fascia which in turn increases blood flow, thus reducing inflammation and accelerates the healing process.The second part involves the neurological component. The compression previously mentioned creates pressure on the pain receptors (nociceptors) beneath the skin, which in turn communicates discomfort or pain signals to the brain. The Kinesio tape works by stimulating the mechanoreceptors in the joint which override the nociceptors and in turn kills the pain. If you remember a coach or your parent saying walk it off or rub it out when you hit your hand or elbow, this is the same concept. A continuous sensory stimulation allows for changes in the peripheral and central nervous system. This in turn blocks the pain receptors from firing.The third component to address is range of motion. Muscle and joints are injured when they are taken beyond the normal physiological range of motion. Kinesio tape helps to keep the joint or muscle from going beyond its normal range of motion. By keeping the muscle or joint in this normal range of motion, the chance of re-injury is reduced and the healing process is accelerated. Continued motion of an injured joint during the healing process helps reduce the formation of scar tissue in the fascia. Blood flow is accelerated which helps supply the tissue with the proper nutrients needed for healing.There is one other question that comes up often and that is "How is Kinesio tape different from conventional athletic tape". Conventional athletic tape is designed to restrict the movement of the affected muscles and joints. For this purpose several layers of Tape must be rolled around and over the affected area, applying significant pressure. This pressure results in the obstruction of lymphatic flow, an undesirable side-affect. This is the reason athletic tape is generally applied immediately before sports activity, and removed immediately after the activity is finished. In contrast, Kinesio taping is based on a philosophy that allows free range of motion to encourage the body's muscular system to heal itself bio-mechanically. To ensure that the muscles have free range of motion, tape with an elasticity of 130-140% of its original length is used for Kinesio taping. This specific elasticity will not allow an over stretch of the muscles themselves. It may look like conventional athletic tape, but Kinesio tape is fundamentally different.
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