Get Back in the Game with Kinesio Taping
Do You Have an Injury? Kinesio taping Can Help!
Rock Tape, Spider Tape, Kinesio-Tape, these are all brands of kinesio taping which make the technique of kinesio taping very confusing. That said, can it help you find relief? It is definitely worth a try when indicated. All types of kinesio tape have some tension built into it, called siping, and when it is applied to the skin with a little tension it causes a light “bunching” sensation. Think of the times that you had a piece of scotch tape or glue on your skin….you were obsessed to get it off as it was an irritant. That is how kinesio tape works as well. The tension causes an irritation (bunching of the skin) and that activates nerve receptors which makes the muscle underneath more active.
There are some other secondary effects that may be helpful under certain conditions like decreasing pain and swelling.
At MTI physical therapy, your therapist may, when indicated, utilize kinesio tape to help increase muscle activity, which may improve range of motion and allow you to be more pain free while you are being active or doing your exercises, and most importantly, get you back to comfortably living your normal life.
Physical therapy and kinesio taping
Kinesio taping has helped many of our patients get back to comfortably living their daily lives, with less pain and stiffness.
At your initial appointment, your Bellevue, Magnolia, Fremont, First Hill, WA physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation, which will determine if kinesio taping will be an effective option for your treatment plan.
If so, your physical therapist will explain how it will benefit your journey toward recovery and the step-by-step process that you will go through to get there.
How can kinesio taping benefit me?
Our physical therapists at our Bellevue, Magnolia, Fremont, First Hill, WA will implement a variety of exercises and modalities into their treatment plans, based on your specific needs. Kinesio taping is among these modalities, used to improve muscle activity and to help give you better muscle support and control. Your physical therapist will place the strips of tape on the affected area of your body, as well as any other places that you may be experiencing pain or stiffness.
If you think you could benefit from Kinesio taping, request an appointment at MTI Physical Therapy today!
How does it work and what are the advantages of kinesio taping?
There are many reasons why kinesio taping may be useful to you in your healing journey. These include, but are not limited to:
Increasing muscle activity:
Kinesio taping works by placing tension on the skin thus, stimulating the nerve receptors. These receptors activate the muscle to contract allowing better movement of the joint, which may be helpful in the rehabilitation process. This muscle activation can also be helpful with controlling swelling.
Relieving pain:
Another benefit of Kinesio taping is pain relief. At times the tension on the skin will allow for the pain receptors to lower the amount of pain messages your brain receives from the affected area. This allows for a more comfortable treatment process overall. Also, increased muscle activity may make your joints move a little better, which could reduce discomfort.
Decreasing swelling:
Injury, surgery, or even simple overuse of a certain part of your body can also result in swelling. Kinesio taping helps to decrease swelling by limiting the pressure between the skin and the tissues underneath. Muscle activation also helps control swelling. This allows any buildup of fluid to travel freely and promotes easier movement of the affected area.
Find relief for your pain today!
Request an appointment with one of our Bellevue, Edmonds, Magnolia, Fremont, First Hill, WA physical therapists today, and get started on your path toward recovery!
At MTI Physical Therapy, we are dedicated to helping you reach your peak physical performance, and we would love to meet with you and create a plan to make that happen.