Kinesiotape

What is Kinesiotape?

Kinesiotape is a taping technique using a woven elasticated tape to help with the rehabilitation of muscles and joints.

The Physiotherapists at Hindmarsh and Fitzroy Physiotherapy are skilled in the application of kinesiotape to help in the rehabilitation of your sporting, occupational or recreational injury.

Kinesiotape Tape offers patients a more gentle approach to rehabilitation than those provided by conventional athletic tape. Rather than rigid sports tape which acts to stabilise and protect joints from ligamentous damage, Kinesio Taping is extremely versatile in its ability to re-educate the neuromuscular system, reduce pain, enhance performance, prevent injury and promote lymphatic flow and healing.

The natural elasticity of the tape creates a lifting action of the skin, which activates both neurological and circulatory healing . Reduced pressure on pain receptors can rapidly relieve acute pain, while improved blood flow and lymphatic drainage reduce swelling and facilitate healing.

Why you should see a Physiotherapist for Kinesiotape

You can google and Youtube kinesiotape or get it from the pharmacy, so why should you see a physio for Kinesiotape? Physiotherapists are experts in the field of Musculoskeletal Medicine. With their experience and knowledge they can diagnose where they pain is originating from. No point kinesio-taping your elbow if the pain is originating from your neck! They are skilled in the application of treatment techniques and know the anatomy and physiology of an injury and the correct direction, stretch and placement of the tape for optimum results.

Physios best understand the right time for application in the recovery cycle and how the application can differ with the structures involved. They can then educate and teach the how, why and when for injury treatment and prevention.

What it can help with.

By using variations in taping technique, kinesiotaping aims to:

  • 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 over-contraction of working muscles.
  • Accelerate recovery from intense exercise.
  • Re-establish normal muscle activation following an injury.
  • Increase muscle tone in injured or inhibited muscles.
  • Delay fatigue and improve muscle endurance

Our Physiotherapists use kinesiotape in combination with manual therapy, soft tissue massage, trigger point release and muscle stretching and strengthening programs to aid the recovery and management of many musculoskeletal conditions. It is applied to facilitate or relax muscles as well as reduce swelling and assist the body's natural healing ability.

We only use the original kinesio-tex tape which is also available for our patients to purchase wishing to continue with it as a self management programme.

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