Kinesiology tape, or K-Tape, is used in physiotherapy to help
provide support to muscles and joints.
With its bright, fun colours and increasing appearance on athletes in televised sports, Kinesiology tape (K-Tape) has been gaining popularity in both the athletic and rehabilitation world. Anyone from a gardener to a professional athlete can use this tape.
But what does K-Tape actually do?
Kinesiology tape, or K-Tape, is used in physiotherapy to help provide support to muscles and joints, while allowing you to move freely and naturally (unlike the more rigid, stabilizing white athletic tape that some people might be accustomed to).
K-Tape is made mostly of cotton (97%) with a small percentage of nylon (3%), making it really stretchy. It’s designed to mimic the elasticity of your skin, allowing for free, full movement.
When applied to your body, the k-tape is stretched to a desired tension level creating a natural recoil that gently lifts the skin. It is believed that this creates a tiny space between your skin and the tissue below which can reduce irritation and compression.
It is also believed that K-tape can help reduce pain by altering your sensory nervous system. All of our tissues contain sensory receptors that respond to pain, touch and temperature and send signals to our brains for interpretation. When K-tape is applied, different receptors are stimulated which can lead to a reduced feeling of pain.
While no one knows exactly how K-tape works, there is enough research that suggests that K-tape is effective in reducing pain and swelling, while improving muscle function and endurance.
However, K-tape is not a substitution for proper rehabilitation or injury management, and should always be combined with appropriate therapeutic intervention.
It is best to talk to your physiotherapist or treatment provider to determine if K-tape is
right for you!
In general, K-Tape is designed to stay on for 3 to 5 days. It is typically recommended to remove it after the fifth day.
One of the advantages of K-Tape is that it can be worn for days at a time. Thereby providing pain relief and support during all of your activities, including sleeping. Ideally, K-Tape will even help improve your sleep by reducing pain and discomfort.
Absolutely! As long as you can easily access the desired area yourself, you can apply the K-Tape. Your physiotherapist can show you where and how to apply the tape, and direct you to video resources that you can follow along with at home.
Like any treatment modality, the time it takes for K-Tape to start working varies from person to person. If you are an athlete, performing in an event, you may only notice the effects of the K-Tape during your performance. On the other hand, if you work at a desk all day long and you are looking for some postural support you may notice the effects of the K-Tape immediately. When used primarily for pain relief, most
people notice an improvement within 24 hours.
Yes! K-Tape is water resistant and is designed to be worn during swimming, showering and working out. Ideally, it is applied to dry skin at least one hour before getting wet.
Knee pain is one of the most common complaints seen in physiotherapy clinics. It can be caused by a number of conditions such as arthritis, patella femoral pain syndrome, meniscus or ligament injuries, tendonopathys and mal-tracking issues.
K-Tape can help provide pain relief by helping to support the joint by increasing the knee joint space, thereby reducing compression and friction. It can also help support the muscles around the knee joint, improving stability and endurance.
The easiest way to remove K-Tape is to saturate it in some form of oil. Olive oil, coconut oil and baby oil all work well. Let the oil sink into the tape for approximately 10 minutes, then remove it slowly. Ideally, you will peel the skin from the tape by tugging the skin in the opposite direction of the tape as you peel it back. Try and make sure you are removing the tape in the direction of the hair growth and resist
the urge to tear it off quickly like a band-aid.
