Athletics Weekly, a popular UK track and field magazine, published an excellent overview of the use of Kinesio Tape to treat performance injuries. After seeing KinesioTape in prominent use at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Championships, British sports reporter David Lowes investigated the taping phenomenon that has electrified the sports world. After visiting Kinesio UK, Lowes concluded that the colored Kinesio strips that were visible on so many athletes were “no gimmick or fashion statement, (but), in fact, the weird and wonderful patterns of Kinesio taping not only ensured that the athletes with niggles reached the event. It meant they finished in good shape as well.”
Lowes described athletes including Bridgette Foster-Hylton, Wallace Spearmon, and Germaine Mason who were not simply able to compete – but also to succeed – as a direct result of their use of Kinesio Tape. Lowes was convinced that had it not been for Kinesio Tape, these athletes might very well have failed. His observation that Kinesio Tape is “taking the world by storm” appears to be borne out by the stories of numerous athletes like these who are using the tape to reduce pain, provide muscular support, decrease swelling and edema, protect against further injury, enhance performance, and promote healing.
The article provides a surprisingly complete picture of Kinesio Tape – its background, benefits, and major features and functions – all in a refreshingly brief one-page piece. Lowes clearly explains the 4 main functions of KinesioTaping and points out the significant difference between traditional athletic taping techniques and the application principles of the Kinesio Taping Method.
He was impressed at the “wide range of sports injuries, orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological and medical conditions that Kinesio Tape can effectively treat, including achilles tendonitis, hamstring injuries, hematoma and bruising, shin splints, tennis elbow and lower-back pain to name a few.
He also mentions an application that he considers amazing: using the tape during pregnancy to aid the reduction of lymphedema in the legs, support an enlarged abdomen – which he says often leads to over-straining of the stomach and back muscles and which can cause problems in the lumbo-sacral region – and to reduce irritation of the sacroiliac region.
Two photographs with descriptive captions visually demonstrate a few of the ways Kinesio Tape can be used to treat injuries and improve performance, while a third photo shows the tape in action at the Beijing Olympics. All in all, the article is a compact yet informative treatment which effectively communicates the multi-faceted qualities and uses of Kinesio Tape for athletes and others.
Printable Copy of Article from the Theratape.com Education Center.
Loading ...
