Kinesio Taping for the Athletic Trainer

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Kinesio Taping for the Athletic Trainer

• Martha Godfrey, MS, VATL, ATC

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History

• Developed in the early 1970s in Japan by Kenzo
  Kase, DC
• Began taping volleyball players in the 1980s
• Use spread to other Asian countries and Europe
• Officially introduced to the USA in 1995

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Mechanism

• Stimulation of proprioceptors proprioceptors
  respond to pressure, position or stretch
• Stimulation of mechanoreceptors
• Facilitates lymphatic drainage by lifting the
  skin to create an area of low pressure

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Benefits

• Decreases pain
• Decreases swelling
• May help correct mechanical dysfunction
• Facilitates weak or atrophied muscles/tendons
• Alleviates muscle spasm by inhibiting muscles
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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Kinesio Tape Properties

• Designed to mimic elastic properties of skin
• Elastic- may stretch (longitudinally) up to 40
  of original length
• 100 cotton
• Latex free
• Acrylic-based adhesive is heat activated and
  applied in wave-like pattern
• One application will last 3-5 days
• Water resistant
• Red tape will absorb sunlight
• Blue tape will reflect sunlight

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Application Principles

• Acute or overuse injuries - insertion to origin
  with 15-25 tension
• Chronic injury or disuse atrophy origin to
  insertion with 25-50 tension
• Lymphatic drainage base of tape over lymph node
  with 10-15 tension
• Correction 50-100 tension
• Area to be taped is in a stretched position
• I, Y and fan strips

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Todays Techniques

• Lateral epicondylitis
• Achilles tendon strain
• Low back strain
• Lymphatic drainage