Kinesiology tape, elastic therapeutic tape, sports tape ... different names for the same brightly colored tape that athletes in every sports seem to be donning like a piece equipment these days.
Kinesiology tape seemed to make its debut during the 2008 Olympics but in reality, it had been in use long before then ... 35 years to be more precise, when Dr. Keno Kaze designed the original version for use with his own patients.
Almost everyone is familiar with the standard white athletic tape that trainers use to bind a sprained ankle or immobilize a broken toe. Its purpose is clear as the tight cotton bandage all but casts that ankle into a particular posture.
But what about this crazy coloured and/or patterned tape cradling knees and shoulders? It doesn’t seem to immobilize anything because the tennis star can still fire a 100km/hr serve at her opponent and the pro cyclist can still bound up a steep incline – blue argyle tape moving like a piston on his knee.
Like many people I thought it was a fad... perhaps even a bit of a fashion statement to catch the media’s attention. It wasn’t until the urging of a colleague that I did some research and then began using it on my own patients.
To my delight, the larger medical community had already begun serious enquiry. And despite some initial unpolished technique on my part, my patients responded favorably…some very favorably!
The Story of Julie
Julie had been suffering from chronic plantar fasciitis for 2 years when she came to see me. After the examination, I did offer a treatment plan which included orthopaedic sandal for wearing around her home, a stretching program and foot orthoses. None of these were immediate solutions however so I opted to apply kinesiology tape as well.
Then like all busy practitioners, I forgot about Julie... until 2 days later when she called the office saying, ”What did Dr. Trotter do to me? That tape is magical! I was pain-free for the first time in months and I want her to do it again!”
Not all patients respond like Julie or even at all and that’s fine. Julie was the eye-opener I needed to not “throw the baby out with the bath water” as it were. Many practitioners are of the mindset that if a treatment doesn’t have dozens of research trials proving its worth, then it should be shelved. If the treatment were surgical or pharmaceutical, I would agree. In this case, the treatment is a strip of cotton mesh with 180% stretch and acrylic adhesive that allows it to stick during sports, showers, sweat – normal living!
Time has passed since my original introduction to kinesiology tape and the fact of the matter is that most therapists offer kinesiology tape as a treatment for a variety of issues.
Visit www.RockTapeCanada.com for more information about kinesiology taping in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada.
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