The benefits of kinesiology taping are directly related to how well the tape is applied. There are several factors that contribute to a good kinesiology tape application:
There are several excellent instruction manuals available that provide detailed instructions for a wide variety of tapings. Most of them, however, require at least a moderate understanding of medical terminology, and anatomy to understand what they say. So, where does that leave the average consumer who wants to work with kinesiology tape, but doesn’t have the background to understand most of the instructions?
The first thing I would recommend is to start with pre-cut kinesiology tape, rather than tape from rolls. A relatively new company called SpiderTech makes 16 different precut configurations for various parts of the body. This alone eliminates the need to design applications and cut the tape into different types of strips. Every precut kinesiology tape product comes with illustrated step-by-step instructions for applying it. This alone cuts the learning curve by a huge amount over learning to apply tape from rolls.
But, the best thing about the SpiderTech products is that each one of them also has an accompanying video of a medical professional applying the tape, and verbally describing each step of the process. And, better yet, forget the astronomical cost of purchasing manuals and dvd’s – these videos are available online, for free!
Recently, I took an additional step to make it easier for my readers to access these videos. I have established a YouTube channel under the same name as I write this blog under, “TapeExpert” (for YouTube it’s all one word). Click on the YouTube icon on the left to go directly to the TapeExpert channel. There, you will be able to access the entire series of SpiderTech instructional videos in one convenient location. If you click the “Subscribe” button for the TapeExpert channel, you will receive notification any time I add a new video.
They say that a picture’s worth a thousand words. With the advent of online video, that should be upgraded to “a video’s worth a thousand pictures!”
Happy watching!
One of the things that makes SpiderTech precut kinesiology tape both clinically effective AND cost effective is that a single application can be worn for up to 5 days. Clinically, this allows the therapeutic benefits to accrue, 24 hours a day, for the entire time it’s worn. No other treatment modality can come close to around-the-clock reduction of pain and inflammation for up to 5 days. Financially, given the $8 to $10 cost of a single application of SpiderTech therapeutic tape, this works out to less than $2 per day for one of the most effective therapeutic treatments available.
Regardless of the price, everyone wants to get the most benefit from the dollars we spend. The best way to do this with SpiderTech Tape is to follow the application guidelines carefully to ensure the most effective, longest lasting applications. In the following video, Dr. Kevin Jardine, creator of the SpiderTech line of pre-cut kinesiology taping applications, outlines the 12 Principles of Application for successful taping.
The following video shows Dr. Kevin Jardine, inventor of SpiderTech pre-cut kinesiology taping applications, demonstrating the proper technique for applying the Low Back Spider to someone with lower back pain. This application technique is designed to reduce pain in the lower back and upper buttocks area. This technique also enhances muscle activation in painful back extensor muscles, allowing them to function with greater strength and endurance. This is especially important for athletes who need to continue training and/or competing, despite acute or chronic low back pain.
The following video shows chiropractor, Dr. Scott Swanson, demonstrating the proper technique for applying Kinesio Tape to someone with tennis elbow. This application technique is designed to increase circulation to the overused extensor muscles of the forearm, helping to reduce inflammation. It also reduces the activation signals to these muscles, allowing them to relax and recover from the lateral epicondylitis condition.
The following video shows Dr. Kevin Jardine, inventor of SpiderTech pre-cut kinesiology taping applications, demonstrating the proper technique for applying the Elbow Spider to someone with tennis elbow. This application technique is designed to reduce elbow pain and optimize muscle activation in the forearm extensors – the muscles directly responsible for the pain and inflammation of tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis.