Kinesio Taping

Kinesiology taping is a thin, stretchy, elastic cotton strip with an acrylic adhesive.  It mimics actual human skin allowing it to be worn without any constriction or restriction in movements.  It is used to help a variety of conditions in musculoskeletal or sports injuries and can even be applied to help with lymph drainage or swelling.

Kinesio taping differs from conventional strapping tape as it is more functional.  There is more give in the tape which, when placed correctly, can either help an injured muscle or facilitate muscle firing.  There are also ways to apply the tape to help with correcting any misalignments as the tape is stretchy and contracts upon itself.  And through different techniques it can create channels in the body to allow space to help with lymph drainage. 

Conventional rigid taping still has its uses though.  Rigid taping would be used in situations where restriction of a joint motion is needed.  For example when you return to sports after an ankle or shoulder injury, you would want to protect the joint from going into the motion that it got injured in the first place.  Kinesio taping would not create the same support effect.

Your practitioner may suggest and apply Kinesio tape in your specific case to help with your symptoms.  Or you may ask your practitioner how kinesio tape might help in your situation.