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Kinesiology Taping for Rehabilitation & Sports Performance
Archive for December, 2010
PowerTaping – Kinesiology Taping Manual of the Year
posted by Tape Expert
The award for best kinesiology taping instruction manual of 2010 goes to RockTape’s PowerTaping: Taping Movements, Not Muscles, 2nd Edition. This 117 page manual, with over 70 color photos and illustrations, provides new insights into the field of kinesio taping for both rehabilitation and sports performance. It provides a comprehensive technical education for anyone utilizing kinesiology taping on a regular basis.
The information is divided into 5 main topic areas:
1. PowerTaping for Rehabilitation
A 3-step process beginning with preloading the structure through stretch, followed by taping for stabilization, then taping for decompression (pain relief). Taping instructions are provided for a wide variety of injuries and medical conditions.
2. PowerTaping for Edema Control
Enhancing lymphatic drainage to relieve swelling and edema. Step-by-step illustrated instructions are provided for the thigh, knee, ankle, neck and arm.
3. Power Taping for Postural Control
Includes instructions for abdominal strain/thoraco-lumbar facet, rotational-lateral truck correction and upper cross syndrome.
4. Power Taping for Pregnancy
Taping techniques for a wide variety of pregnancy-related issues, including SI joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, rib pain, diaphragm pain, piriformis/posterior hip pain and more.
5. PowerTaping for Athletic Performance
RockTape’s groundbreaking research into taping entire “movement chains” to reduce fatigue and enhance muscle activation. Includes sport-specific taping instructions for running, swimming, throwing, cycling, kicking and squatting.
This manual was written for health professionals and athletic trainers and contains some moderate to difficult medical terminology. The taping instructions, however, are simple and clearly illustrated and require no medical background to understand and follow.
The PowerTaping Manual, 2nd Edition is now available 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
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If you’ve ever been frustrated about having to remove your kinesiology tape to apply liniment or other topical analgesics, fret no more. Just get yourself a bottle of Rock Sauce, the brand new topical analgesic designed to work with kinesiology tape. Just in case you missed the connection, RockSauce is a creation of the innovative thinkers at the RockTape company. It’s equally effective, whether applied directly to the skin or on top of a kinesiology tape application.
The active ingredients in Rock Sauce include 20% methyl salicylate, 10% menthol and .3% capsicum – the maximum amount of these ingredients allowed in non-prescription, over-the-counter products. It was also carefully formulated to comply with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) guidelines, making it both safe and effective for athletes of the highest caliber.
It is already receiving rave reviews from RockTape’s sponsored athletes, including 2012 Olympic decathlon hopeful, Ryan Beckwith. “After a big block of training, I use Rock Sauce and RockTape to help relieve the aches and pains that sometime develop. Rock Sauce really helps take the edge off of the soreness,” says Beckwith. “I’ve used a lot of different pain relievers over the years and Rock Sauce is one of the best out there. When I combine it with RockTape, my recovery time decreases a lot which helps me get ready for my next block of training.”
Rock Sauce comes an easy-to-absorb lotion. After rubbing it in, the first sensation is that of coolness, followed by an increasing warmth that quickly penetrates deep into aching or fatigued muscles. Depending on your sensitivity, you may think it should have been named “Hot Sauce,” as it is said to be approximately 20% more intense than other topical analgesics. What else would expect from the Rock Stars at RockTape?
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