Low back pain is a common affliction in our society affecting 80% of people at some point in their lives.
Kinesiology taping is a superb way to improve low back problems, in particular, postural issues but also in those who are susceptible to low back muscular strain and fatigue from work and sports.
The vast majority (95%) of low back pain is non-specific in nature and usually due to lifestyle issues that strain muscles and other soft tissues of the back.
It is always wise to seek medical advice for persistent pain of any kind in order to rule out less common but serious conditions of the back. Several days of severe pain or worsening pain necessitates an appointment with your family doctor.
For mechanical low back pain the prescription is quite simple:
- Ice any acute symptoms, especially if you recall a stressful incident that “pulled” a muscle in your back.
- Continue normal physical activity within the limits of comfort. Lying around is not good for the back as the lore of yesteryear might dictate.
- An assessment by a therapist to discover any underlying postural issues is sound advice.
- Regular stretching and strengthening is helpful.
Back pain is one of the areas where I have found that kinesiology taping is extremely useful – much more so than any rigid bracing- especially in those who have postural issues.
The key is getting the patient into the corrected posture before applying the kinesiology tape. The tape acts as a gentle, tugging reminder on the skin when the patient starts to revert back to poor postural habits.
There are several standard taping methods for low back pain but do not be afraid to experiment and start withKinesiology Taping Basics if you haven’t already done so.
For backs, especially with larger people, the 4″ tape may be a better option than the standard 2″ tape.
Method #1: Low back pain across the back
- Bend at waist. Anchor the tape just below the pant line and run two strips up to the mid-back on each side of spine. No stretch.
- Apply decompression tape using middle stretch, across the area of pain in lower back. Stretch tape 50%-75% in middle, no stretch in ends.
Method #2: Low back pain along the spine
- Bend at the waist. Anchor the tape just below the pant line and run two stabilization strips on each side of spine. Apply little to no stretch.
- Resume normal standing. The tape should have wrinkles in it.
This technique may be good for general low back pain whether acute or chronic.
Method #3: Low back pain across the sacroiliac area
- Bend at waist. Apply decompression tape with middle stretch, across the area of pain in lower back. Stretch tape 50-75% in middle, with no stretch at ends.
Visit www.RockTapeCanada.com for more information about kinesiology taping in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada.
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