While you may have heard of Kinesiology (the science of movement in the human body), you may not yet be acquainted with the therapeutic practice of Kinesio Taping.
As a chiropractor, I’m proud to tell you that this revolutionary rehabilitative tool was developed by one of my colleagues in the discipline, Dr. Kenzo Kase, in the early 1970s.
Dr. Kase had a creative approach to healing and his wish, in developing this treatment, was to fill what he perceived to be a gap in available therapies. In 1980, he had fully developed Kineso Taping and at that time, set up the Kase Chiropractic Institute, in Japan.
Throughout the 1980s, the influence of the technique grew, with Dr. Kase establishing a training program for practitioners. Today, Kinesio Taping is used by sports teams and even on racehorses and has been used as support at several Olympic Games. It’s now also reimbursable under Medicare.
So, what does it do? Let’s find out.
Extended Rehabilitation
Kinesio Taping is a highly effective tool used by chiropractors, physical therapists and sports medicine professionals. This method supports the natural healing processes of the body while providing additional support for muscles and joints in the healing process.
By facilitating lymphatic drainage via lifting the skin, Kinesio Taping creates interstitial (between soft tissue) space, allowing for a profound reduction in inflammation. This leads to reduced pain.
Another notable feature of the technique is that range of motion is not reduced while the patient is taped. This factor encourages rehabilitation of the implicated soft tissue. Because the practice of Kinesiology encourages movement as a preventative health measure, Kinesio Taping takes its name from the discipline.
The tape used is latex free and can be worn for days at a time, so there’s little for practitioners and patients to do in terms of maintenance, once the tape is deployed. This also allows for a 24/7 therapeutic effect.
What Does It Treat?
If it hurts, Kinesio Taping can treat it. And it’s especially useful for people who have been in physical therapy for some time, but who require an additional support for full recovery.
From headaches to foot pain – Kinesio Taping is a full-spectrum pain-relief and rehabilitative modality which gives the body the support it needs to heal fully.
While the effectiveness of the technique involved (placement and formations of taping) is unquestioned, without the unique tape used in the therapy (Kinesio Tex Tape), this therapy wouldn’t be what it is. The elastic nature of the tape, combined with its thickness and ability to be worn around the clock, for several days, makes it a revolutionary product.
A Kinesio Taping practitioner is highly-trained to discern the right placement and methodology for tape placement, depending on the individual being treated and the nature and location of the injury.
Back & Body Medical
At Back & Body, we relieve pain. We’re a team of pain relief clinicians practicing chiropractic, sports medicine, physical therapy and acupuncture.
Our goal? To restore you to full function and a pain-free life. Contact us about Kinesio Taping.
