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Archive for the ‘Kinesiology Tape’ Category
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!
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Theratape Introduces New KT Tape Team Colors
posted by Tape Expert @ 12:13 PM
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Just in time for holiday gift giving, KT Tape is launching a new line in their Kinesiology Tape Precut Strips category. Aptly named KT Tape Team Colors, the 9 new colors can be combined to match the colors for most professional, amateur and school sports teams. As Theratape.com says, “Now you can support your muscles AND your team at the same time!”
KT Tape is conveniently packaged in rolls of 20 precut strips. Simply tear off a strip, remove the backing and apply according to the instructions included in every package. Because most applications use two strips, it’s easy to create your team colors by using one strip of each color.
The new colors include burgundy, forest green, gold, grey, light blue, navy, orange, purple, white and a completely off-the-wall camo pattern (not sure which team wears camo, but I don’t think I’d like to compete against them!) KT Tape is also available in the more traditional kinesiology tape colors of beige, black, green, red, pink and royal blue. In addition to the single rolls of precut strips, KT Tape also comes in classic uncut rolls in both single and bulk sizes.
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 – 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”.
New SpiderTech PowerStrips – Kinesiology Tape Precut X,Y,I Strips
posted by Tape Expert @ 9:39 AM
Saturday, October 2, 2010
As the popularity of kinesiology taping grows, so does the array of kinesiology tape products on the market. One of the companies at the front of this therapeutic wave is SpiderTech. Best known for their collection of 16 precut kinesiology tape applications for different body parts, Spider Tech is continuing to introduce new and exciting kinesiology taping products. Their newest product, SpiderTech PowerStrips, rounds out their product line that previously consisted of rolls and precut applications.
Precut X, Y and I Kinesiology Tape Strips
PowerStrips are ready-to-apply strips of kinesiology tape, already cut into the three most common taping configurations – the X Strip, Y Strip and I Strip. These precut kinesio strips can be used individually, in combination with each other, or in combination with any of SpiderTech’s other precut applications.
These kinesio precut strips bridge the gap between rolls and precut applications. The backing is perforated and divided into sections that are numbered for easy application. The machine cut edges and rounded corners reduce fraying and rolling that can occur with hand-cut strips. Smaller and significantly less expensive than body part applications, PowerStrips are both convenient and cost effective.
SpiderTech PowerStrips are available to both health professionals and consumers at Theratape.com, along with a complete line of other kinesiology taping brands and products.
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.’
Kinesio by any other name … A Kinesiology Taping Glossary
posted by Tape Expert @ 5:52 PM
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Running a website that sells kinesiology tape and writing a kinesiology taping blog keeps me up to date on taping terminology. With all of the brand names, generic terms and even mis- spellings, it can be difficult to keep all of today’s “kinesio” terms straight. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned kinesiology taping professional, you should find the following kinesio glossary useful.
Kinesiology Tape
Kinesiology Tape is a generic term for a thin, stretchy therapeutic tape that comes in assorted sizes, colors and configurations. Best known as an athletic tape or sports injury tape, it is also widely used in medical and rehabilitation settings such as physical therapy clinics, chiropractic practices and hospitals.
Kinesiology Tape Brands
There are currently 4 major manufacturers offering quality kinesiology taping products both domestically and internationally. They are Kinesio® Tape , KT Tape™, RockTape and SpiderTech™ Tape.
Kinesiology Tape Rolls
Rolls of kinesiology tape come in assorted lengths and widths. The most common size is the 2″ x 16′ single roll, which all of the major kinesiology tape brands offer. Several manufacturers also offer bulk rolls rolls that are 2″ wide and 105′ (Kinesio Tape, RockTape) or 125′ long (KT Tape).RockTape also offers 4″ wide rolls in both single and bulk roll sizes.
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Precut Kinesiology Tape Strips
KT Tape offers rolls of tear-off, precut strips in 5″, 10″ and 18″ strip lengths. The 5″ and 10″ strips are perforated longitudinally, allowing them to be applied in either “I” or a “Y” formations – the two most common application techniques. Precut strips eliminate most of the cutting that is required to apply kinesiology tape from rolls.
More recently, SpiderTech introduced SpiderTech PowerStrips, precut X, Y and I strips in convenient accordion-packs. The X and Y strips are 2″ wide by 8″ long, and the I strips are 1″ wide by 6″ long.
.Precut Kinesiology Tape Applications
SpiderTech is the only brand that offers individually packaged applications, already precut for different parts of the body. The step by step instructions included in each package allow even those with no kinesiology taping experience to apply the 16 different “Spiders.”
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Kinesio® Tape
Although Kinesio® Tape and Kinesio Tex® Tape are both trademarked brand names, these terms have become to kinesiology taping what Xerox is to photocopying. Many people now use the term Kinesio Tape to refer to kinesiology tape in general, which isn’t a bad thing at all for Kinesio® sales! Common misspellings I have seen in search terms include kinesiotape, kinisiotape, and so on.
Where to Buy Kinesiology Tape
Each of the manufacturers and many medical supply companies now sell kinesiology tape. Many sites, however, sell only to licensed health professionals. Theratape.com is the only website specializing in kinesiology tape and carrying a complete line of products from all 4 major brands. Theratape also provides a comprehensive Education Center with detailed information on each of the brands, plus instructional videos and printable application instructions. No registration is required to purchase from Theratape, and all educational resources are available free of charge.
Volleyball and basketball seasons go hand in hand (pun intended) with jammed fingers. A finger jam occurs when a ball makes contact directly on the tip of the finger. The force is transmitted through the fingertip to the knuckles. Although the initial pain is felt in the fingertip, it is usually one of the knuckles that is more seriously injured. Depending on the severity of the sprain, the knuckle may end up bruised, swollen and excruciatingly painful.
Athletes who want to continue playing with a finger jam injury need to provide support to the injured area. Restrictive taping, however, can interfere with touch and the ability to control the ball. This is the type of situation where kinesiology tape can provide the perfect balance between mobility and support. The elasticity of kinesiology tape allows it to provide support to joints or muscles without restricting range of motion as traditional athletic tape does.
KT Tape is a major kinesiology tape brand in the US and internationally. Following are some very simple instructions for applying KT Tape quickly and effectively to a jammed finger.
Step 1: Cut a strip of KT Tape that is 1/2″ to 1″ wide and 6″ to 8″ long, depending on the size of the finger. Tear the backing in the middle of the tape and peel it back toward the ends. With the finger straight, anchor the middle of the tape on the pad of the injured finger and run one end of the tape along the inside of the finger.
Step 2: With the finger bent as much as possible. apply the other end of the tape along the top of the finger, ending on the top of the hand above the last knuckle. Do not stretch the tape as it is applied. When finished, rub the taped area gently to activate the adhesive. The finger will feel as though it is being gently pulled into an extended position.
The tape should be applied at least an hour before exercise or showering.
Kinesiology Taping for Pregnancy: Part 4 – Diaphragm Pain
posted by Tape Expert @ 6:00 AM
Saturday, August 28, 2010
By the third trimester of pregnancy, the uterus has expanded to fill the entire space between the pelvis and the breast bone. This puts a significant amount of pressure on the diaphragm, the band of muscle separating the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. When unrestricted, the diaphragm moves up and down as it contracts and relaxes, pushing air in and out of the lungs. As the baby grows, it pushes up on the diaphragm, limiting its ability to move up and down. This is responsible for the shortness of breath most women experience towards the end of pregnancy. Because the diaphragm contains many nerves, pressure applied to the diaphragm can cause also pain, not only in the diaphragm, but also referred pain in the ribs and even the shoulders.
The RockTape Kinesiology Tape company leads the field in kinesiology taping applications for pregnancy. A simple, inexpensive and safe technique to relieve diaphragm-related discomfort is to apply a strip of kinesiology tape around the upper perimeter of the baby bump. The following diagram and instructions are taken from the RockTape Pregnancy Applications poster, which details 12 different taping techniques for a variety of pregnancy-related discomforts.
1. Begin by cutting a strip of Rock Tape long enough to stretch around the entire upper border of the “baby bump.” Round the corners to help prevent peeling.
2. Fold the tape in half and tear the backing completely across the center of the strip. Peel the backing away from the center a few inches in each direction.
3. Apply the center of the tape on the top of the bulge, directly below the sternum/breastbone. With a full inhalation of breath, continue to remove the backing and apply the tape with a slight stretch along the outer perimeter of the abdomen.
4. Apply the final 2-3″ of tape with no stretch. Rub the entire length of the tape to activate the adhesive.
Free Poster – RockTape
Pregnancy Taping Instructions
Would you like a copy of the entire RockTape Pregnancy Application poster with 12 different kinesiology taping applications for conditions related to pregnancy. CLICK HERE to order.
