Anyone use Kinesio tape for their aches and pains?
With my trying to rebuild my strenth, I have had an especially hard time on the days that I gallop Tucker for his conditioning. The pain in my leg that I had a blood clot in becomes more severe and then I start overcompensating with my other leg, placing more weight on that side.
I work for a chiropractor, who also utilizes ART (active relief therapy). Unfortunately, as eager as we both are to try it on my leg, he won’t do it until I have an ultrasound done on my leg, otherwise, it would be too dangerous.
Today he said he had been thinking about my leg over the weekend and wanted to try the Kinesio tape. He applied it and I have actually had no pain this afternoon, even after working all day and then doing barn chores.
For those not familiar with it, it is what Lance Armstrong promotes and alot of Olympians were using it in the Hong Kong. The way it is applied is different from traditional athletic tape and it is to improve circulation.
I am really excited to see how my leg holds up on Wednesday, out next conditioning day…unfortunately, we are expecting severe storms tomorrow, so I doubt I can try it out then.
I’ve been using Kinesio Tex for about 15 years (I’d bring it back from my frequent trips to Japan).
What I found helpful was to have my chiro put it on properly where every I needed it, and then I’d have him take a photo so I could copy it for correct placement. I used it quite regularly after breaking my collarbone.
I suspect the abundant use of it at the Olympics has more to do with superstition than actual relief but I did feel better riding with the tape on my back and shoulder, probably because my shoulder was less than stable.
(As for Lance Armstrong, the new Sports Illustrated article would lead one to think there was lots more going on than just adhesive tape.)
I love Kinesio tape! I haven’t used it in a couple years now, but when I had torn my peroneal tendon in my left ankle, I used it daily. I was running track at the time and had injured it during hurdle practice.
Along with icing, I used the Kinesio tape as needed (since it lasts a couple days per application) and it helped tremendously when it came to removing the inflammation from my ankle. I also feel that it significantly improved my ultimate recovery since I was able to train for and compete in hurdles the very next season without reinjuring it.
As for using it for minor aches and pains, I really haven’t thought to use it for such things. Instead, I use some salve like Traumeel, kwan loong oil, or Tiger Balm.
How is it supposed to work? I’ve seen people wearing it but I’m not clear on what makes it special.
The tension created by the tape lifts the skin and allows for better circulation to the injured region. Better circulation means that the area has more toxins removed and more components necessary for repair to be introduced to the area.
[QUOTE=SuZQuzie;5380672]
The tension created by the tape lifts the skin and allows for better circulation to the injured region. Better circulation means that the area has more toxins removed and more components necessary for repair to be introduced to the area.[/QUOTE]
Exactly! And I must say, having just woken up, this was the best, uninterrupted sleep I have had…no muscle cramping.
I don’t have to worry about applying it…I can just have my boss do it as needed!! I am glad to hear that others have used it with good results. I am really looking forward to tomorrows conditioning! That will be the true test.
Um, toxins?
Actually, the medical literature is not so positive about this tape. The effect really seems to be about feeling ‘better’ during exertion. Which is fine with me.
I have not tried it but a couple of my rowing teammates use it regularly and feel that it helps (so does the teammate who is a PT).
Good luck with it
the toxins that they are referring too may be something like removing lactic acid buildup or any of the metabolic byproducts produced by your body during exertion. That is why your heart rate and breathing rate increases during exertion so that there is more hemoglobin and blood flow to the areas that are being most exerted to clear out the waste products from your muscles, etc.
I’ve never heard about this tape-maybe I will look into it for my knee!
I have a pulled muscle in one shoulder and my chiro has it done up in the tape. There is no question that it not only has made it feel better, but has improved strength and range of motion. It does however, need to be applied initially by someone like a chiro, but can be applied subsequently using a photo.
Tom
Yes, toxins. Sometimes it is easier to use buzz words than it is to get into the particulars of it all.
But, just for you, JER, a quickie literature review:
What Kinesio tape doesn’t do, though it is commonly used as such, is to support injured joints to prevent re-injury. In one study, it was shown that non-elastic, common athletic tape was substantially more effective at supporting various ankle injuries than Kinesio tape (Briem et. al., 2011). Conversely, Kinesio tape has been proven to be more effective in treating impingement syndrome in the shoulder than physical therapy (Kaya et al., 2010). This shows that the benefits of Kinesio tape are best seen when used in scenarios where rehabilitation from an injury is involved, rather than prevention from injury. In another study looking at cervical pain caused by whiplash, it was shown that individuals treated with Kinesio tape over a 24 hour period shown only mild improvements in inflammation (Gonzales-Iglesias et al., 2009). Once again, this shows that Kinesio tape’s benefits are limited when it comes to short-term use. But this last study I found was particularly interesting: it also involved shoulder impingement syndrome and measured three-dimensional shoulder motion and EMG activities of the upper and lower trapezius and the serratus anterior muscles during elevation of a 2 kg weight both with and without the application of Kinesio tape (Hsu et al., 2008). It was shown that there was an immediately noticeable significant difference in scapular kinematics between before and after Kinesio tape was applied, with improvement seen with the later condition. Muscle EMG amplitude was also reduced when Kinesio tape was applied compared to untaped conditions, meaning that, with Kinesio tape, a lower level of EMG activity was required to maintain functional performance.
As for Kinesio tape’s mode of action, there are no scientific studies published on the subject. But, it is based on the principle that, when the range of motion of muscles is increased, they are more able to “pump” fluids through the lymphatic and venous systems. With that comes removal of lactic acid, carbonic acid, and cellular debris which are then filtered by the kidneys and excreted and the increased introduction of satellite cells to repair the damaged myocytes.
Thanks for this information ! Kinesio Tape
Wow ~ have only heard about this Kinesio tape ~ thanks for posting all this pertinent ninformation.
Being a total “new age” junkie… I have been studying the books and trying the tape for different things on myself and my S.O…
we totally love it. Maybe the effect is mostly mental but it does seem to work.
I am plotting a grid for “dressage” position :lol::lol::lol:
soon to be followed by a cross country postion and stadium position…
I have always felt most things could be fixed with duck tape or coat hanger or in an emergancy a hammer, and well this stuff is the duck tape PLUS a coat hanger!!!
[QUOTE=SuZQuzie;5382362]
Yes, toxins. Sometimes it is easier to use buzz words than it is to get into the particulars of it all.[/QUOTE]
I think ‘toxins’ is a poor choice of buzz word in this case. Lactic acid does build up but recent (since 1985) studies and research point to lactic acid having beneficial effects.
You didn’t need to do this for me. As I said previously, I’m familiar with the medical literature on Kinesio-Tex and the studies are a mixed bag tending toward the non-result. And as I said previously, I’ve been using the stuff from way back when it wasn’t sold in the US (AFAIK – and I used to bring it back for other people too).
No study has ever concluded that elastic adhesive tape is harmful in any way, so it’s really up to the user to decide if they like the effect.
My PT has taped my lower back and shoulders before. The shoulders – no effect. But it did help provide some support in my lower back and I felt stronger and straighter. So my results were mixed.
Three days now…today was the first day I rode with the tape. It is the first time I have ridden and had no pain in my leg! I was able to ride in the gallop position without having to compromise my position! I guess tomorrow I will have to tell my boss he is a miracle worker!
I love it! Used it for my shoulder and collarbone years ago and again this last summer under supportive tape on my ankle. Broke some small bones in my foot and ankle 7 days before I ran Int XC on my wonder horse. Kinesio tape went on on Friday under supportive tape, rode two horses completly pain free. Amazing. Helped the healing process as well- we without tape 3 1/2 weeks after the break and I never slowed down!
I’m a para-rider & have hypermobility syndrome so my joints dislocate easily & on their own. I’ve now been using it on my shoulders & recently my knees & it’s helped so much I am really impressed ?.
I get really bad tension headaches. I wear a protective vest all day so between the that and the usual sitting, typing, what have you, it feels like I have iron rods going up the back of my neck. During bad spouts it will last a week or so. I have started using the tape on my neck/shoulder area and within a few hours the headache is gone and over a few days no more iron rods! I took the tape off a few weeks ago and they haven’t returned. I feel like it just gets the blood moving better in there so the muscles can relax or something. I love it!
I have nerve damage in my leg so while it can work fine it tends to forget to. The tape really helps with that by reminding my nervous system that the leg exists. Using it consistently has made a huge difference for me.
However I can’t put it on myself and get the same results and its a pita to go to the physio plus $$$. Also we don’t use actual kinesio tape most of the time, she puts on the really sturdy stuff that is like Elastikon and it stays on till it falls off, which is 5 or 6 days usually. I have tried to peel it off early and it took skin with it so no more.
I’ve also used it to tape up a rib that has a torn ligament but that’s more or a duct tape job than anything. Helpful though, very helpful.
