Kinesio Taping and Chiropractic: a Perfect Match

Kinesio Taping has been around for more than 25 years, and is currently breaking new ground in the fields of physical therapy, sports medicine, chiropractic, and athletic performance. Here is an excerpt from the "About" page at Kinesiotaping.com:

The Kinesio Taping Method is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while allowing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion. It is used to successfully treat a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological and medical conditions. Both Kinesio® Tex Tape and the training protocol have shown results that would have been unheard of using older methods and materials.

In the mid-1970s, Dr. Kenzo Kase was already a well-known Japanese practitioner licensed in chiropractic and acupuncture. He developed the tape, which has a texture and elasticity very close to living human skin, in response to limitations he encountered working with rigid sports taping methods on his own patients.

Dr. Kenzo Kase Dr. Kase was experienced with both Japanese and US norms for patient treatment. He began to have questions about the limitations of the Western medical mindset. He heard of a cryotherapy treatment for arthritis that utilized tape to adjust joint distortion. In Western medicine the presumption had been that once a joint is in a certain shape that cannot be changed. He was intrigued by the possibilities that this treatment could remediate the distortion.

He developed the tape, which has a texture and elasticity very close to living human tissue, in response to limitations he encountered working with rigid sports taping methods on his own patients.

My Take: Kinesio Tape is the perfect compliment to chiropractic adjustments which seek to restore normal joint position and function. The Kinesio Tape can be applied to injured areas post adjustment to give the support necessary for a more normal motion which will accelerate the healing process.

In addition, Kinesio Taping can allow athletes to perform in situations that would otherwise subject them to further injury. The Kinesio Tape can be applied in various patterns and tensions to protect injured joints and muscles, but still allow for peak performance.

We use Kinesio Tape at Kingston Health & Wellness to help support injured spinal areas and extremities when we feel it is necessary. We also treat many athletes and performers that require special taping procedures to protect chronic injuries during competition or performance.

Bottom Line: Kinesio Taping and chiropractic are a perfect match...and we are proud to offer it to our patients.

Physical Process

If used properly, you might not even feel it on your body. Your physical therapist or sports medicine practitioner stretches your skin lightly to apply the tape. For support, the tape is applied from the origin of the muscle to where it inserts. For rehabilitation purposes, the opposite direction is stretched and taped. The goal is to help the muscles work with proper biomechanics. In addition, the tape aids in proper blood flow and lymphatic drainage, further rehabilitating damaged muscle or aiding in avoiding injury.

Mental Process

Besides aiding with proper body mechanics, Kinesio tape also helps athletes mentally. Because the tape doesn't bind, an athlete can practice using the affected area to its full extent. And because the area is supported, pain is often minimized, making the athlete less fearful of movement. In addition, the removal of pain, or fear of pain, enables the athlete to relax and engage fully in the sport.

Who Can Use It

Kinesio tape was first used over 25 years ago after being developed in Japan by a chiropractor, and has spread rapidly from elite athletes to every day sports fans. It must be applied properly to be effective. Its use has been noted to resolve shoulder issues, headaches, general aches and pains including those of joints, muscle spasms and cramp. It does not contain latex. It can be worn while swimming and bathing and lasts for three to five days before retaping is required.

Why not speak to our qualified Kinesio-Tape Chiropractic for free to check if it would benefit you!

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Call us on 0208 780 0898 or email info@livefreewellness.co.uk

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