Kinesiotape: What Is It and How Does It Work?

The kinesiotape technique has a number of advantages over athletic taping and McConnell/Mulligan taping. For example, while athletic taping generally provides muscle and joint supoort, it limits the range of motion and has a limited wear time. Further, athletic taping is typically not used for rehab purposes. Similarily, McConnell/Mulligan taping is used for joint bracing and strapping to limit movement; its primary purpose is orthopaedic treatment, and it has a limited wear time. By contrast, kinesiotape allows full range of motion while providing support to joints and muscles. It also has the benefit of a longer wear time, as a patient can use kinesiotape for three to five days.

Kinesiotape is designed to facilitate the body's natural healing process while providing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting range of motion. It provides extended soft tissue manipulation to prolong benefits of manual therapy done in the clinic. Kinesiotape also alleviates pain and facilitates lymphatic drainage by lifting the skin microscopically. Kinesiotape can be used for a wide range of injuries and symptoms, including osteoarthiritis, muscle strain, ligament sprain, low back pain, tendonitis, bursitis, and lymphedema. Kinesiotape is applied over muscle to decrease pain and inflammation, relax overused muscle, support muscle and/or support the joint. Moreover, kinesiotape can be combined with other modalities such as cryotherapy,manual therapy, and electrostimulation.

In short, kinesiotape is a highly effective and safe taping method that provides a number of advantages over other taping methods. The kinesiotape method provides immediate and long term effects and is safe for all ages and can be used on kids as well as elite athletes.

 

Author
Lila Crowson MPT Lila completed her Masters of Physical Therapy at LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans. She has been a licensed Physical Therapist since 2001 and currently oversees and manages a talented team of therapists and technicians at the Orthopedic Center.

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