3 Useful Times To Use Kinesiology Tape
Over past 2 decades, kinesiology tape has become a standard part of the arsenal of sports and regular physiotherapists, chiropractors and other health care practitioners. In addition, many serious athletes and even weekend warriors always carry a roll of this tape around with them to manage nagging injuries. In this post, we shall investigate the question of when to use kinesiology tape and provide 3 examples of occasions when it may help.
Although it is possible to learn to use kinesiology tape at home, it is always preferable for it to be applied by a qualified health care practitioner. However, we do realize that this may not always be practicable. In the era of the coronavirus pandemic, it is advisable for us to practise social distancing as much as possible and tape at home.
If you need any help in how to apply kinesiology tape without expert supervision, we can suggest our page with guidance on how to apply this tape. It includes videos and specific guidance on optimal tape application for specific injuries.
Although this guide contains useful advice on how to manage several repetitive stress injuries, there is no substitute for professional medical advice. We suggest that the decision of when to use kinesiology tape is not one to make by yourself. Accordingly, treatments we suggest below should be carried out only after consultation with a qualified medical advisor.
Use Kinesiology Tape To Reduce Shoulder Pain After A Long Day At Work
Many of us work in jobs that require use to spend long periods in a sitting position. At the same time, we are usually required to spend hours staring at a computer monitor or typing on a computer keyboard.
Working conditions such as these can cause us to develop shoulder and upper back pain. Sometimes this pain is due to bad posture. This type of problem can be alleviated over time by wearing an upper back brace (or posture brace). It can also be helped by upper back exercise designed to strengthen the muscles of that region.
However, for relatively quick relief from this type of shoulder pain, we can suggest using kinesiology tape. The video below shows how this can be done.
Kinesiology tape works by helping to lift the skin over damaged soft tissues and increasing blood circulation through injured tissues.
After a few days of correct usage, you may find yourself recovering much more quickly from each long day at work. Together with a good night’s sleep, you will be able to bounce back and be ready for another day of work by the following morning.
Use Kinesiology Tape To Reduce Pain From That Sprained Ankle After Your Weekend Basketball Game
For many of us, regular exercise during the week just isn’t a realistic goal. The demands of family and work simply don’t permit it. Instead, we try to make do with a pickup game of basketball or a couple of sets of tennis on Saturday afternoons at the local park.
Unfortunately, when preparing for this once weekly exercise session, many of us will not take the time to warm up properly. The result of exercising with cold ligaments and tendons is that a sudden twist to reach a volley or ill fated lay up can cause us to land awkwardly and sprain an ankle. This is a good time to consider using kinesiology tape to manage the pain.
If applied properly, the tape will help to increase circulation of blood through the injured ankle. This will help to speed up healing of the joint.
For an injury like this, however, it is important not to neglect the importance of proper physical therapy in effecting a complete recovery. Be sure to visit a physiotherapist at the earliest opportunity to embark on a course of therapy.
As we have already pointed out, a physical therapist will also be able to provide important advice on the proper use of kinesiology or other athletic tape to treat your injury. He or she can also provide guidance on the question of the period of time for which you should use the tape.
Use Kinesiology Tape When Suffering From Sore & Tired feet
A third answer to the question of when to use kinesiology tape is after a long day spent on your feet. Those of us with jobs that require hours of standing or walking will know that at the end of a long day’s work, your feet will be tired, heavy feeling and swollen in some cases. People in professions such as air hostessing, teaching, bus conductors and traffic wardens are just a few examples of those who regularly suffer from sore and tired feet.
Much of this will be caused by edema – a condition that causes the blood to pool at the lower extremities of our feet. The blood is unable to return to the heart as it normally should .
However, by helping to lift the skin over the blood vessels of the leg, kinesiology tape can facilitate the return of this excess blood to the heart. This blood will be oxygenated as it passes through the heart and returned to the legs, making them fresher and less tired.
As with the other conditions mentioned above, we suggest that the first step once you experience tired and swollen feet should be to visit a physician for medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. However, if edema is contributing to the problem, you should ask your doctor for advice on using kinesiology tape.
It is also important to remember that other steps can be taken together with wearing kinesiology tape. For example, embarking on a weight control program can go a long way to reducing stress on the feet due to long periods of standing or walking.
When To Use Kinesiology Tape- Conclusion
In this article, we have pointed out three occasions when use of kinesiology tape may be beneficial. We would like to once again emphasize that you should get advice from a physical therapist before using kinesiology tape. He or she will be able to explain how to get the maximum benefit from its use.
However, if this is not possible, please feel free to consult our page on how to use kinesiology tape for any help you may need. It contains detailed guidance on the application of kinesiology tape to all the parts of the body on which it is commonly used. Proper application of kinesiology tape may reduce swelling and provide you with the pain relief you need to continue with your daily duties while your injury heals.
