The method of kinesiotaping was developed by a Japanese chiropractor and, unlike the classic tape, is not a stabilizing or fixing tape, but maintains full mobility. Kinesiotape is an elastic, self-adhesive tape, which is produced in various colors. Its texture is largely resistant even when exposed to water and can therefore be worn while swimming or showering.
The tape remains on the skin for up to 7 days after application. Kinesiotape can be used to irritate certain receptors of the skin, increase blood circulation, loosen and loosen fasciae and connective tissue, correct posture, improve lymph drainage or relax tense muscles. There is a multitude of different possibilities and areas of application.
The proper application of a Kinesiotape is essential for the success of the therapy and should be learned through special courses and advanced training. Due to the popularity of Kinesiotape, however, there is an increasing number of books and videos that explain how to apply the tape to the layperson. Before applying a kinesiotape, a detailed report should be made by a therapist or doctor, who will ensure the correct choice of the therapy method.
The foot has a large number of joints, which can cause different complaints and require different tape methods. Common complaints that can also be taped are for example the heel spur or the hallux valgus. In the case of the heel spur, a strip of tape is pulled over the sole under the bent foot with traction over the heel and taped to the calf.
Pain points can be emphasized in isolation by further transverse tapes from the inner ankle to the outer edge of the foot. Ankle joint tapes are also common after ligament injuries, strains or compressions. In the case of ankle joint tapes, it is important to understand the injury mechanism or, in the case of overloading, to identify the affected structure in order to select a suitable tape algae.
In the case of ankle joint tape, the foot is also stretched forward, in the direction of the knee. A tape tape is applied under the heel with traction and is guided over the inner and outer ankle towards the middle of the lower leg. Depending on the location of the pain, the inner or outer ankle can now be taped.
Pain points can be accentuated and the ankle fork can also be relieved. There is also a variety of different taping techniques with the Kinesiotape. The knee joint is often treated with Kinesiotape to relieve joint pain under stress.
Malpositions of the kneecap can be treated, inflammations, irritations and joint effusions can be taped or meniscus, tendon and ligament problems can be taped with Kinesiotape. There is a variety of different application possibilities. Here too, it is important to find out the cause of the complaints by means of a detailed examination in order to choose the right taping method.
A quite universal taping is done by slightly bending the knee, between 70-80° and can theoretically be done by oneself. The kneecap is enclosed by two strips of equal length. The tapes are glued one after the other.
The tape is applied in the middle of the kneecap under tension and then to the opposite side of the kneecap. The ends of the tape strips are always glued without tension. In order to provide further support for the knee joint, two more strips can be applied parallel to the first ones and stuck on with less tension.
Often there are also so-called patellar tendon complaints below the kneecap. Here, a y-shaped kinesiotape is applied below the kneecap, which then runs around the kneecap. There are a variety of other application possibilities.
The shoulder joint is a joint that is secured by ligaments and muscles and is therefore particularly susceptible to overloading, irritation or injury. The rotator cuff is often affected, which, as the muscles close to the joint, performs particularly stabilizing functions. Sometimes shoulder pain also occurs during instability.
You can find exercises for this in the article Exercises for the Rotator Cuff. Stabilizing tapes can also be used here. A detailed report is necessary.
A classic taping at the shoulder starts from the internal rotation.To do this, the arm is turned on the back if possible and the hand is placed in the lower back, the front of the shoulder is now slightly stretched. A strip of tape from the kinesiotpe begins below the base of the deltoid muscle, in the hollow on the upper upper arm and is led with a slight pull over the front upper arm in an arch to the acromion. For the rear rein of the tape, the arm is held in front of the body, the hand can be placed on the other shoulder, the back of the shoulder is slightly stretched forward.
The second tape strip is placed in the same place as the first and is now led in an arch over the rear upper arm to the acromion. The shoulder blade-fixing muscles can also be included, or the shoulder-neck muscles. Pain points can be taped in this area.
For the back, too, there are a variety of tape possibilities with the Kinesiotape. Pain-relieving tapes, detonating tapes or so-called memory tapes. Memorytapes are tapes that remind the wearer of a physiological posture.
They are applied in an upright position with a light pull. If you collapse while sitting for a long time, the slight pull reminds you of the posture correction and additionally activates the erect muscles by mechanically irritating the skin. Individual pain points or trigger points can be treated with a star-shaped application of tape.
A frequent tape application on the back is the detonating tape over the back extensor in the thoracic spine area. As always, the patient is in a pre-stretched position, in this case it is the upper body forward tilt. Two long tapes are stuck parallel to the spinal column on the left and right (paravertebral) over the back from top to bottom under tension.
If necessary, transverse strips at shoulder blade level can emphasize existing pain points. A muscle that frequently causes pain in the lower spine is the quadratus lumborum muscle, which runs along the sides of the spine. It can also be relaxed with a simple tape.
The patient bends far forward to make the lower back round and then tilts slightly to the side. The side that becomes long is the side that is to be taped. One strip of Kinesiotape is applied next to the spine from bottom to top, pulling slightly to the waistband, another strip is applied at the same height but with a slight outward bifurcation.
Afterwards the patient can stand up again. One of the most common tapes is probably the kinesiotape for the neck. It serves to relax tense muscles and can also relieve tension in case of tension-related headaches.
It is usually applied on both sides. The patient sits upright and lets the head hang forward. Two strips of tape are placed between the shoulder blades on the right and left side of the spine and glued to the hairline with little to no pulling upwards.
Caution, do not stick too high, the tape will not hold at the hairline! Pain points can be accentuated with a little pull by using crosswise running tape strips. Mostly this tape is combined with the trapezius tape.
For this two more tapes are necessary. The head is tilted to the right side. One tapes is attached to the left shoulder (at the acromion) and led up the side of the neck to the hairline.
The same on the other side. The purpose of the attachment is to relax the musculus trapezius, which is often tense due to incorrect posture or shoulder lifting. There are also many kinesiotape variations, for example with a y-shaped tape system or inclusion of the shoulder blade-fixing muscles.
At the hip you can of course also taped with Kinesiotape. Frequently it comes in the hip area to complaints of the musculature. The hip flexors shorten, the hip extensors are too weak.
A not uncommon problem is the so-called Piriformis syndrome, which can cause radiating pain. The piriformistape is a y-shaped attachment of the anterior pelvic bone, which is easy to feel. This is where the wide part of the tape is applied.
The upper rein is stuck over the iliac crest in the muscle course towards the sacrum. The lower rein over the muscle course over the buttocks also curved towards the sacrum, so that the two reins enclose an oval hole. It is also possible to work the other way round, so that the broad base of the Y is placed at the sacrum and the two reins are taped in an arch forward to the protruding pelvic bone.The muscle is pre-stretched by placing the upper leg in a lateral position in front of the body, while the lower leg remains loosely stretched on the support.
The upper side is taped. There are many other taping systems that can also provide relief in cases of hip arthrosis, for example. Kinesiotape is produced in a wide variety of colors.
The bright neon colors are not only trendy and eye-catching, they also have an effect. It is said that the different colors of the tapes also have different effects. The theories of color theory are followed.
Red as an alarm color is said to have a stimulating and also warming effect, while the blue kinesiotape has a calming and cooling effect. Lymph and edema tapes are also taped in blue colors. Blue tape is also said to have an anti-inflammatory function.
Green Kinesiotape has a harmonizing effect and can be used especially with organic tapes. The yellow color is said to have a metabolism activating function. Black tapes, on the other hand, have a neutral effect and can therefore be used universally.
Likewise, beige kinesiotapes also have a neutral effect and are also relatively inconspicuous, so they can also be used for face tapes, for example. Some therapists also let their patients consciously choose the tape because they believe that the body intuitively chooses the right color for it. Kinesiotaping is used in therapy as well as more and more often privately at home.
There are different suppliers of tapes and different theories and methods behind them. The market is enormous and continues to grow thanks to the popularity of colorful tapes. In most cases, the tapes are not supported by health insurance and have to be paid for out of the patient’s own pocket.
Tape can often be purchased from the therapist himself for the system. Some practices also sell the rolls to their patients. In the meantime, small supermarkets have also added Kinesiotape to their range of products.
Pharmacies also sell the colorful tapes. Online, rolls or even ready-made cuts can be bought from different suppliers. The market is confusing. It is best to get advice from a therapist or to deal with customer reviews, since the price range also varies greatly.
