Kinesiology tape was originally invented by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor, in the 1970's. He designed it to closely support muscles and joints during everyday, leisure and sports activities. The key feature of Kinesiology Tape is that it provides compression without restricting movement. This is unlike other athletic or sports tapes.
Kinesiology tape can be beneficial in supporting injured muscles or joints. It can help to reduce pain caused by overuse or repetitive movements. KT is designed to be elastic and allow a degree of flexibility. This can help to offload painful structures and allow healing after an injury. Other benefits associated with KT tape include reduced swelling, pain relief and improved proprioceptive awareness.
KT tape can be applied in a "criss-cross" fashion to help provide a compression technique. This can also improve the drainage of swelling and metabolites away from the injury site. Postural benefits have also been found by applying KT tape to help re-educate muscles and joints. This is so that imbalances can be addressed, and the body allowed to adopt a better position to protect against re-injury. The long-term solution is to address the root cause of the injury and strengthen muscular and movement imbalances. But the application of kinesiology tape products can initiate this process. Then it can help to ensure the body can start supporting itself naturally.
Kinesiology Tape has a range of specific uses:
- • Support muscles during sports activities
- • Address muscular tension
- • Assist lymphatic drainage
- • Activate the endogenous analgesic systems
- • Correct joint problems
- • Pain management
- • Decrease swelling following an injury
Kinesiology Tape can be used on a range of body parts including: shoulder, knee pain, ankle, wrist, elbow, shin, back and more.