If you’re a physically active person, then suffering an injury can be immensely frustrating: not only do you have to deal with the injury itself, but you also have to skip out on your favorite activities while you recover. At North Austin Physical Therapy, we offer a variety of techniques to help you get better faster, such as kinesiology tape for injuries.
Kinesiology tape (also known by the brand name Kinesio tape) is a soft, stretchy tape used to manage pain and mobility restrictions after an injury. Athletes also use it to improve their body’s function and performance, as kinesiology tape allows for much more movement than standard medical tape.
Our team of physical therapists uses kinesiology taping as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. It works best when used in conjunction with other treatment methods, such as therapeutic exercise or manual therapy.
Keep reading to learn more about kinesiology tape for injuries. Or, if you live in the area, schedule an appointment to see if this technique will work for you!
How Does Kinesiology Tape Help Manage Injuries?
Experts have several theories about how kinesiology taping works.
Applying the tape stretches and slightly lifts the skin, possibly relieving pressure from your fascia, a web of tough, flexible tissue that wraps around your bones, muscles, and organs. Your myofascia (the fascia around your muscles) can become restricted or knotted, leading to pain. Kinesiology tape helps ease those restrictions, providing relief.
Another theory is that kinesiology tape promotes the circulation of lymphatic fluid, which helps reduce swelling and inflammation. By lifting your skin slightly, your lymphatic fluid can flow more easily, allowing it to do its job of removing waste from your body.
At North Austin Physical Therapy, we typically employ kinesiology tape for injuries such as muscle strains, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and other soft tissue injuries.
What to Expect During Your Appointments
When you visit us with an injury, we’ll begin with a comprehensive assessment to help us understand your condition so we can better develop a customized treatment plan. We typically use kinesiology tape to manage your symptoms, including pain, swelling, and restricted mobility, as you work through your physical therapy.
Applying the tape is fairly simple. We’ll clean the impacted area, then stretch the tape over your skin. The amount of pressure or “lift” in your skin will vary based on your needs; some injuries might only require a slight stretch, while others may need a stronger stretch to help.
Once we’ve applied the tape, we’ll activate the adhesive to ensure the tape stays put. We’ll also show you how to safely remove it if needed.
Once your tape is in place, we can begin working through the rest of your treatment program.
Can Kinesiology Tape Help Your Injuries?
Kinesiology tape is one of many tools in the North Austin Physical Therapy toolbox for addressing injuries. If you think you might benefit, schedule your appointment today!
Tags: physical therapy, physical therapist, health and wellness, Kinesiology Tape
