Kinesio tape is a flexible tape that supports and stabilizes joints, muscles, and ligaments as they bend, contract, and extend. You may have seen athletes at sporting events wearing long strips of brightly colored tape strategically placed on or near their joints.
Unlike, bulky, elastic bandages, Kinesio tape is not used to limit movement or provide stiff support.
Kinesio tape, also known as kinesiology or elastic therapeutic tape, boasts up to 40 percent elasticity. The tape is typically made of cotton and spandex with a heat-activated acrylic adhesive to keep it in place on the skin.
Physical therapists use various methods of Kinesio taping to apply tension to the skin and muscle. Taping can be used as a rehabilitative tool to:
- Relieve pain
- Reduce inflammation
- Relax overused muscles and joints
- Improve athletic performance
- Stabilize joints
- Support the body’s natural healing process
Kinesio tape takes the stress off the joints by creating a rubber-band effect that modifies movement while supporting muscles and tendons.
Author: Sushanta Kumar Ghosh, Physiotherapy Specialist, DIU Medical Center
