Kinesiotaping for Prevention and Treatment of Sporting Injuries

If you’ve watched a basketball game or football match, you might have noticed strips of colourful tape splayed in patterns across athletes’ arms and legs. It’s called Kinesiotaping – a newly popularised modality used by therapists and trainers to provide support, reduce swelling, lessen pain, and improve performance. The original Kinesio tape was developed by Japanese chiropractor Dr. Kenzo Kase in the late 1970s, who wanted a tape that provided support but didn’t limit the movement of athletes.

Most tapes used in Kinesiology therapy are made from a combination of latex-free hypoallergenic cotton, spandex, and medical-grade adhesive. The thickness of the tape is designed to approximate the thickness of the skin. It is really stretchy and can stretch around 40 to 60 per cent of its resting length, allowing it to provide support without limiting your body’s movements. It is also water-resistant and strong enough to stay on for 3 to 5 days. This elasticity is crucial because it enables therapists to apply more tension to activate or excite a muscle. 

Here’s why Kinesio tape is used in sports injury prevention and treatment: 

• Prevent joint irritation – When applied correctly, Kinesio tape works by lifting the skin from the tissues underneath it. It is believed that this helps create a microscopic space between your skin and the tissues. For instance, if it is applied over the knee, it can increase the space in the knee joint. Although the increase in space is slight, it can help reduce the likelihood of joint irritation. 
• Reduce pain levels – All of your tissues, including your skin, contain nerve receptors that feel temperature, touch, and pain. With Kinesiology taping done by a licensed physiotherapist in Dubai, you can create a lift that unloads these tissues. As a result, it alters the pain signals going to the brain by compression or decompression. When the brain receives a different signal, it responds differently.   
• Trigger point release – A trigger point is described as a sensitive area in the muscle or connective tissue that becomes painful when compressed. Kinesio taping has been used to lift the skin over these tensed, knotted muscles. When the area is decompressed, trigger point tension is decreased. Thus, nerve receptors send a new signal to the brain, which reduces pain and increases flexibility. 
• Improve circulation – Kinesio tapes also play a role in sports injury treatment, as they help boost blood and fluid circulation. It has been used in conjunction with other treatments, such as manual therapy. According to a 2017 study, Kinesio taping not only improves blood flow but also that of lymphatic fluids in the skin. This could help regulate swelling and accelerate the healing of bruises, especially for individuals recovering from injuries.
• Re-educate muscles – When you wear Kinesio tape on your body, you feel the sensation of the tape, which makes you more aware of how you’re standing or moving. This is why physical therapists use it to correct posture in the head and neck. It is believed that Kinesio taping can help retrain muscles that have lost function or have become accustomed to an unhealthy movement pattern.  

To understand how Kinesio taping can benefit your condition, consult with a physical therapist who is trained in its proper application. The experts at Scandinavian Physiotherapy Center DMCC can show you how Kinesio taping is applied in patterns that will help your specific problem. They are a leading Dubai physiotherapy centre offering a wide range of specialities such as manual therapy, musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports rehabilitation, and more. Book an appointment today by calling +971 4 551 6126.