Synonyms
Kinesio-, K-Active-, Kinematic-, Chiro-, Pino-, Medi- or K-Taping
Definition
Kinesiotaping is a treatment technique in which highly elastic adhesive strips are applied to the skin to achieve various effects. The term kinesiotaping should not be confused with the so-called tape bandage used in orthopedics.
Origin
This method was developed a little more than thirty years ago by the Japanese chiropractor Kenzo Kase. He was looking for a way to relieve pain naturally without medication. To do this, he first used skin-colored adhesive strips, which he first tested on sumo riders, as they have an increased potential for injury.
In 1987 he even applied this method to his dog, a Chihuahua, when it was bitten by a much larger dog to relieve its pain. In the meantime, Kinesiotaping is quite common in Germany, especially among athletes. It is estimated that as many as thirty to forty percent of Olympic athletes now use Kinesiotaping.
Function
Kinesiotaping is supposed to relieve pain and improve blood circulation in the treated areas. It is mainly aimed at muscular problems, which can cause a number of problems and diseases. For this purpose, extremely elastic, several centimeters wide, breathable and cotton-based adhesive strips are applied to the skin near painful areas.
The effect is explained by the fact that the tapes put the skin under tension and thus slightly lift the upper layers of the skin, lifting the upper layers of the skin and gently massaging them with every movement. This is intended to facilitate and promote blood flow and lymph drainage, so that injured regions can be better supplied with blood to promote the body’s own recovery process. In addition, the inflammatory reaction and, in the case of injuries, the accumulation of blood or tissue fluid causes swelling and thus pressure on the pain receptors located between the skin layers.
The elastic tapes reduce the pressure on the receptors, which can lead to pain relief. This makes it possible to move the affected body parts normally again. As a result, fewer relieving postures are taken and painful cramps are avoided. Kinesiotapes also offer a certain stability, direct the direction of movement and, above all, they promote the perception of the muscles, one’s own resilience and mobility, the so-called proprioception, which can lead to better movement and an improvement in muscle tone (muscle tension). Due to their elastic properties, however, they do not restrict the range of movement, so that no stiffening or so-called contractures occur.
