Kinesiotape
Kinesio taping in Portland Maine is becoming very popular after gaining notoriety at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Kinesio tape is a hypoallergenic, latex free, highly elastic form of sports tape. First used by acupuncturists and chiropractors in Japan, today kinesiology tape is used by practitioners throughout the world to treat injuries and improve sports performance.
The primary purpose of kinesio taping is to give support and stability to the muscles and joints without restricting circulation or movement. In addition to providing support for joints and muscles, it also aids in the elimination of pain and encourages lymphatic drainage and blood flow throughout the tissues.
Kinesio tape is unique in the way it both supports an affected area while also rehabilitating it. It is very light and comfortable on the skin causing no compression or alteration of normal circulatory flow. Kinesio tape has an elasticity of about 140% of its original length thus allowing full motion, while preventing over stretching of the muscles. Muscles are constantly contracting and extending within a normal range of motion. Healthy muscles have natural spacing between the skin and the muscle allowing for the normal circulation. When a muscle is inflamed, injured, or swollen, the space between it and the skin lessens and the muscle becomes compressed. This pressure causes the person to experience pain.
Normal sports taping of an affected joint or muscle supports the area, but also further compresses it causing a decrease in circulation. Through the alleviation of compression affecting the musculature, pressure is relived from nearby nerves, blood, and lymph vessels. As these systems begin to function properly, inflammation and pain begin to decrease, and the restoration of full range of motion is accomplished. While the use of kinesiology tape is often associated with athletes, medical professionals have been using kinesiology tape to alleviate a wide variety of ailments, not just sports injuries. It can be used to treat sports and non-sports injuries, including shin splints, plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee and back pain.
Our chiropractors at Mend Health and Wellness have been properly trained in the application of kinesio tape to help correct abnormal muscle function. If you are suffering from any of these conditions or are interested in obtaining more information regarding kinesio taping, please
contact our team in Southern Maine.