KINESIOTAPING

Kinesiotape has been used in the realm of sports for over a decade, but wider exposure came during the Beijing Olympics. Back strains in gymnasts, knee sprains, neck and upper back tension in cyclists, plantar fasciitis, leg strains in runners, and tennis elbow in climbers are just a few conditions that we can use K-tape on.

Kinesotaping can achieve different goals depending on how it is applied, these are the main functions:

• Hold tension over a muscle that is partially torn
• Promote lymphatic drainage in areas that are swollen and bruised in acute injuries
• Support movements of irritated tendons
• Prevent excessive movement at an injured joint
• Improve proprioception and increases neuromuscular efficiency

These functions are accomplished while still allowing nearly full range of motion at the joint. In contrast to the white athletic tape, which often limits range of motion. More recently, certain applications of k-tape have been used to increase the kinetic potential in sports-specific muscle groups like quads for cyclists, rotator cuffs for overhead throwing athletes and hamstrings for runners. Heightened proprioception and neuromuscular efficiency in athletes will enable them to return from injury faster and even reduce their predisposition to injury.