UNCATEGORIZED
Therapists and health care providers have used kinesiology taping for over thirty years. Recently, it has gained popularity possibly due to the increased exposure it received in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic games. Additionally, Fascial Movement Taping (FMT) has been increasingly used in sports such as Cross Fit as well as with horses and riders in equestrian sports. FMT applications have also been developed for tactical use in the military and with active training and shooting.
FMT is utilized to encourage effective movement patterns in individuals using the tape. The application is as much about movement as it is about tape. Optimal movement patterns are promoted through the treatment of acute injuries, use in chronic cases as well as for prevention and performance improvement and training. FMT is a comprehensive framework of taping, including tape use aimed at reducing swelling in an acute injury to maximizing outcomes in the rehabilitation phase of care and finally as an adjunct to training or competition to improve performance and recovery.
Kinesiology tape (K-tape) differs from traditional sports tape as it stretches along its length but not across its width. This property allows it to contour around body parts, allowing joints to move through a full range of motion. Traditionally, sports taping has focused on limiting movement, however, the goal of kinesiology taping is to encourage movement.
K-tape is utilized for pain management, decompression and neurosensory input. Once applied, the tape mechanically decompresses the skin and underlying tissues it is applied to. It is hypothesized that this decompression relieves pressure from the free nerve endings in the tissues that are responsible for pain causing an immediate reduction in perceived pain levels. Decompression also improves circulation to and from the taped area, allowing decreased edema and possibly contributing to performance and recovery effects during activities. Additionally, k-tape stimulates a variety of sensory nerves in the skin and underlying tissues. These receptors serve as proprioceptors meaning they assist the brain in knowing body part position during movement. *A study using functional MRI showed more areas of the sensory cortex of the brain are stimulated when subjects had tape applied to their body part during movement.
FMT is beneficial in the acute, sub-acute and chronic stages of injury healing as well as throughout the rehabilitation process. It also plays a key role in injury prevention, enhancing movement and proprioception as well as improving recovery during training in uninjured athletes.
*Callaghan JM et al. Effects of patellar taping on brain activity during knee joint proprioception tests using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Physical Therapy. 2012; 92(6):821-830
