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Taping for Rehabilitation & Sports Performance
Archive for the ‘Kinesiology Tape Benefits’ Category
Professional triathlete, Jordan Rapp, was on top of the world in 2009, after winning Ironman championships in both Canada and the US. That world collapsed when he collided head-on with a car while biking at 30 mph. His injuries were both potentially life threatening and career ending, but not only did Jordan survive, but he’s also back on the podium again. He gives much of the credit for his return to championship form to SpiderTech Tape.
Spider Tech is the world leader in precut kinesiology tape applications for a wide variety of body parts. With step-by-step instructions included with every application, anyone can learn to tape themselves for relief of pain and inflammation or to support fatigued or injured muscles. Because the tape is thin and stretchy, it is an ideal sports tape for injured athletes, allowing them to continue competing with full range of motion as they recover from strains and sprains.
Jordan credits SpiderTech with allowing him to return to both training and competition, “not at 90%, but at 100%.”
Spider Tech Tape is available online at Theratape.com.
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As the clinical applications for kinesiology taping continue to expand, an exciting area of growth is that of pediatric therapy and rehabilitation. Part of this expansion can be attributed to the development of new adhesive technologies and taping configurations suitable for infants and children. The other factor fueling the growth of pediatric kinesiology taping is the availability of a growing body of positive evidence-based research.
A recent article in ADVANCE for Physical Therapy & Rehab Medicine (November 29, 2010), presented 6 case studies involving infants and children with neurological injuries and/or developmental delays. Written by a physical therapist and an occupational therapist from Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, the article describes the use of kinesiology tape in both inpatient and outpatient settings. They noted that when patients are sent home with tape on, they can continue to receive therapeutic benefits the entire time the tape is worn.
The cases involved 10 children ranging in age from 18 months to 7 years, with a variety of conditions, including spina bifida, Chiara malformations, Prader Willi syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, frontal lobe stroke and bilateral clubfeet. All of the following benefits were documented by quantifiable improvements in a variety of standardized tests:
- improved ability to sit independently
- improved ability to reach for a toy
- improved willingness/ability to initiate movements independently
- greater stability in trunk and leg muscles
- increased range of motion, target accuracy and fluency of motion
- improved stepping velocity and cadence
- improved gait accompanied by better posture
- improved balance
- decreased effort for gross motor tasks
- increased speed and fluency for gross motor tasks
The article concludes with the authors’ recommendation that both medical and allied health care practitioners should consider using kinesiology taping in their pediatric patients’ plans of care.
Additional Information for Clinicians
Health Professionals Kinesiology Taping Resource Site
KT Tape was featured on the popular Tennis Channel program, Fit to Hit, during the summer. The show featured the lead physical therapist and athletic trainer for the ATP, Clay Sniteman. Sniteman uses KT Tape on tennis pros to relieve pain, reduce swelling and accelerate healing from their injuries. Tennis pros love it because it allows them to continue training and competing as they recover from such injuries as tennis elbow, rotator cuff injuries, wrist strain, knee pain and more. The elastic properties of kinesiology tape allow it to provide support for an injured or overused area without restricting movement, a critical feature for tennis players who need to access their full arsenal of moves during tournament play.
RockTape Endorsed at Rock ‘n Roll Marathon
posted by Tape Expert @ 10:27 AM
Friday, November 26, 2010
Depending on the taping method used, RockTape kinesiology tape can be used either therapeutically or to enhance athletic performance. When the Rock Tape PowerTaping protocol is used, athletic performance benefits can be significant for athletes participating in endurance events. Delayed onset of fatigue and greater endurance result from improved blood flow to working muscles, better removal of lactic acid and enhanced muscle activation, which improves efficiency of movement. This makes it a high-demand item at endurance events such as marathons and triathlons.
The following video clip aired on Great Day SA, a daily news show on KENS5 in San Antonio, two days before San Antonio’s famous Rock ‘N Roll Marathon. Watch below as sports physician and professional athlete, Dr. Judy Stavely, discusses the benefits of RockTape …
I wrote a detailed post back in May about the Airrosti (Applied Integration for the Rapid Recovery of Soft Tissue Injuries) method for treating soft tissue injuries and their use of kinesiology tape. At the time I noted that my Airrosti provider had a supply of three of the four major brands of kinesiology tape. I’m now pleased to announce that they have added the highly-respected KT Tape (Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape) to their arsenal – in fact, they recently contracted with KT Tape to produce a private-label tape with the Airrosti logo on it. Since I’m currently undergoing Airrosti treatment again (this time for a high hamstring strain), I thought this would be a good time to revisit the topic of fascial manipulation and why kinesiology taping is such a complementary modality.
Airrosti is a form of “manual therapy” that involves hands-on manipulation of the fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds and connects all body tissues. Fascia can become tightened, twisted or distorted as a result of trauma or overuse, leading to pain and loss of mobility. The only way to correct these fascial issues is through direct manipulation. If that sounds like it might be painful, you’re right. The only way to reach and affect fascia is through deep (and I mean DEEP) manipulation of those tissues. Airrosti therapists do this by pressing deep into the constricted tissue with their thumbs.
In my most recent injury, Dr. Schmedding, my Airrosti provider, performed this procedure along the entire length of my hamstrings as well as some of my adductors, beginning at the knee and ending on the ischeal tuberosity (sitting bone). Although it was extremely uncomfortable at times, past experience taught me that this was a“good” kind of pain, associated with the release of tissues to a healthier state. I could actually feel the change in resistance in my tissues as Dr. Schmedding “released” one area after another. And, despite the discomfort I endured during the session, I walked out virtually pain-free, a major improvement over my condition only an hour earlier.
I also walked out with several colorful strips of KT Tape extending from my gluteal area all the way down to my calf. (The image shows my earlier IT Band taping.) KT Tape is an ideal companion to Airrosti because of its ability to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and reduce bruising. It also provides structural support without restricting range of motion, an important feature for injured athletes. I’m pleased to say the reduction of pain and inflammation was evident immediately in my painful hamstring. The prevention of bruising was not quite as complete, but what the heck, the KT Tape covered most of it anyway!
Kinesiology Taping Techniques – Pain Relief
posted by Tape Expert @ 5:00 AM
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Kinesiology tape can be applied in different ways to achieve different results. By manipulating the amount of stretch in the muscle and/or the amount of stretch in the tape, a kinesiology taping application can provide pain relief, lymphatic drainage or structural support. When pain relief is the desired objective, the rule of thumb is to stretch the muscle, not the tape. This is accomplished by holding the target muscle group in a position of maximal stretch (within pain tolerance) as the tape is applied with no stretch.
The SpiderTech Tape company has produced a series of three educational videos in conjunction with the launch of their new product, SpiderTech PowerStrips – precut kinesiology tape strips in X, Y and I configurations. The following video demonstrates how to create a neurosensory (pain relief) application, using Spider Tech Power Strips.
Kinesiology Taping Techniques – Structural Support
posted by Tape Expert @ 5:00 AM
Monday, November 1, 2010
Kinesiology tape can be applied in different ways to achieve different benefits. One of the main taping techniques is to provide structural support for weak or injured muscles or joints. Because of its elasticity, kinesiology taping is not suitable to provide rigid support for a severe injury or to stabilize an unstable joint. It can, however, be used very effectively to prevent potentially harmful ranges of motion or to improve static or dynamic postures.
The following video was produced by the makers of SpiderTech Tape, to explain and demonstrate how kinesiology tape can be used to provide structural support for a muscle group or joint.
Kinesiology Taping Techniques – Pain Relief vs. Structural Support
posted by Tape Expert @ 5:00 AM
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Kinesiology tape can be applied in different ways to achieve different results. The experts at SpiderTech define three main taping techniques:
- Neurosensory – to relieve acute or chronic pain
- Microcirculatory - to reduce swelling and bruising by enhancing lymphatic drainage
- Structural - to support injured areas and encourage proper postural and movement patterns
Each of these techniques requires a different combination of two factors:
- The amount of stretch in the affected muscle or muscle group
- The amount of stretch in the tape as it is applied
The general rule of thumb for each technique is as follows:
- Neurosensory - stretch the muscle, not the tape
- Structural - stretch the tape, not the muscle
- Microcirculatory - stretch the muscle and the tape
In conjunction with the introduction of their new PowerStrips Kinesiology Tape Precut Strips, Spider Tech has produced some new videos that clearly demonstrate application techniques for each of the three categories. The following video explains the difference between a neurosensory application and a structural application for the shoulder.
RockTape Athletes Exceling in Numerous Sports
posted by Tape Expert @ 7:38 PM
Saturday, October 30, 2010
When it comes to kinesiology taping for athletic performance enhancement, RockTape leads the field. And, if podium results are any indication, RockTape’s cutting-edge PowerTaping protocol could become part of the pre-competition preparation of all champion athletes.
So far this year, Rock Tape athletes have reached the podium over 75 times and have amassed a total of 17 National Titles. Much of RockTape’s initial success was in cycling, but as the following list demonstrates, athletes in any sport can benefit from both PowerTaping for performance enhancement and/or therapeutic taping for injuries.
RockTape Champion Athletes
Professional Women’s Cycling
Mara Abbott – 1st, 2010 US Nat’l Road Racing Championship; 1st, Giro Donne
Megan Guarnier – 1st, 2010 Tour de Nez
Kaitie Antonneau – 1st, 2010 US Collegiate National Track Championship, Omnium; 2nd, 2010 US Jr National Road Championships
Sinead Miller – 1st, U23 2010 US Road National Championship; 1st, U23 2010 US National Time Trial Championship
Olivia Dillon – 1st, Irish National Championship
Ruth Winder, Cari Higgins, Hanan Alves-Hyde – 1st, 2010 US National Elite Track Championship, Team Pursuit
Cari Higgins – 2010 US National Elite Track Championship: 1st 500m; 2nd Omnium; 3rd Points Race
Hanan Alves-Hyde – 2010 US National Elite Track Championship: 2nd, Points Race; 4th Omnium
Beth Newell – 4th, 2010 US National Elite Track Championship, Scratch Race
Professional Men’s Cycling
Daniel Holloway – 1st, 2010 U.S. Professional Criterium Championship, Gateway cup winner
Jackson Stewart – 2nd, Tour de Beauce, Stage 6
Tejay Van Garderen – 2nd, Tour of Turkey
Ian Moir – 1st, 2010 US Elite National Track Championship, Madison
Junior Cycling
Coryn Rivera – US Jr. Road National Championship: 1st, TT; 1st, Road; 1st, Crit; US Jr. Track National Championship: 1st, Keirin; 1st, Points; 1st, Sprint; 1st, Team Sprint; 3rd, Junior World Track and Road Championships
Daniel Farinha – 2nd, 2010 US Jr. National Championship, Madison
Ruth Winder – US Jr. National Championship: 1st, Flying TT; 3rd, Team Sprint; 2nd, Scratch; 2nd, Points
John Tomlinson – US Jr. National Championship: 2nd, Flying TT; 2nd, Points
Philip OʼDonnell – US Jr. National Road Championship: 1st, Road; 1st Crit; 2nd TT
Triathlon
Suzy McCulloch – 1st, 2010 Diamondman Half Ironman
Cogen Nelson – qualified at US Triathlon Nationals to represent Team USA in Beijing
Badminton
Derrick Ng – 2nd, 2010 Canadian Championship, U23
Inline Skating
Wouter Hebbrecht – 1st, 2009 World Championship Inline Speed Skating
As word spreads, more successful athletes are choosing to become RockTape athletes. The most recent addition is
2012 decathlon hopeful, Ryan Beckwith. a former CIF 4x100m relay champion who runs the 100m in 10.48 and vaults a 17ʼ5”.
Now that you know what kinesiology tape is and the different types that are available, the logical next step is to educate you about how it is used. Kinesiology taping takes a completely different approach to athletic taping than the rigid, immobilizing sports tapes most athletes are familiar with. This approach evolved from the desire of many athletes to continue to train and compete as they recovered from their injuries. While rigid taping techniques make this difficult because of the immobilization of the injured areas, the elasticity of kinesiology tape allows an effective taping to be accomplished without restricting a normal range of motion. This reduces the need to compensate with uninvolved muscle groups, which can negatively effect both function and performance.
First introduced by the makers of Kinesio Tex Tape as the Kinesio Taping Method, the technique involves applying tape directly over an injured area, as well as around its perimeter. In most cases, the muscles should be held in a stretched position while the tape is applied. Unless the goal is to provide structural support, the tape itself does not usually require additional stretching as it is applied. The natural elasticity of the tape creates a microscopic lifting action of the skin, which activates both neurological and circulatory healing mechanisms. Reduced pressure on pain receptors can rapidly relieve acute pain, while improved blood flow and lymphatic drainage reduce swelling and facilitate healing.
With slight variations in taping technique, kinesiotaping can accomplish all of the following:
- Provide structural support to joints and muscles without restricting a healthy range of motion.
- Correct improper muscle function by providing neurosensory feedback during movement.
- Relieve pain from both acute injuries and chronic pain conditions.
- Reduce swelling and inflammation through enhanced lymphatic drainage.
- Accelerate healing via improved blood flow to injured tissues.
- Prevent overuse and overcontraction of working muscles.
- Accelerate recovery from intense exercise.
- Reestablish normal muscle activation following an injury.
- Increase muscle tone in injured or neurologically inhibited muscles.
- Delay fatigue and improve endurance through enhanced muscle ‘snap back.’
