Kinesiology taping is a method that provides support to muscles and tendons, while helping to reduce pain and inflammation, helping to relax tired and overstressed muscles, and speeding up their recovery process.
Kinesio tapes – the history of their appearance
The first mention of teips appeared in medical literature at the end of the 19th century. These were rubberized tapes with an adhesive layer, which were recommended by doctors as bandages for injured joints. A little later, tapes began to be called teips (from the English tape – tape).
As it turned out, the technique was quite effective, but the adhesive layer strongly irritated the skin. Experiments began with various compositions of glue and the tapes themselves. Finally, in 1899, the famous company Johnson’s & Johnson’s introduced tapes with zinc oxide. These were the ones that became widely used.
At first, teips were used only for medical purposes, and only after decades did professional athletes pay attention to them. Using taping, it was noticed that the resulting injuries are not only easier to bear, but they can also be prevented.
In 1973, Japanese doctor Kenzo Kase developed a method called kinesio taping (“kinesis” is Greek for “movement”). In 1979, the method was published, and in 1988, everyone learned about these teips, when at the Summer Olympics in Seoul, spectators saw stripes of different colors on the bodies of athletes.
Even today, specialists continue to improve the technologies for the production of teips, thanks to which it has become possible to solve the problems of the medical, rehabilitation and aesthetic areas.
What are Kinesio Tapes like today? And how do they work?
Tape, or kinesio tape, today is made of cotton, viscose or nylon, it is dense and at the same time has sufficient extensibility. On the inside of the tape, an adhesive composition made of medical acrylic is applied, which fixes the tape on the skin. This composition is hypoallergenic, but it does not contain any medicinal or analgesic components. The help of the tape is to stimulate the lymph flow, and this, in turn, contributes to the recovery processes of muscle fibers in this area of the body, which occurs naturally, while pain and overexertion are relieved.
Kinesio tape allows you to maintain freedom of movement, while traditional tapes keep muscles and joints at rest. Due to a slight stretching, the kinesio tape lifts the skin at the site of application, and thus reduces pressure on them, while improving lymph circulation in the area where the tape is located, and stimulating the metabolic process.
Therefore, kinesio tapes not only prevent injuries, but also accelerate the recovery process of those already received. Tapes have a special texture, which in its properties is close to human skin. Tape fabric is waterproof (you can take a shower with them). The adhesive layer does not cause irritation. All these properties of the tape allow the skin to breathe.
Kinesio tape is enough to stick on the desired area of the skin and lead a normal life. The time during which the tape is used depends on the problem being solved. It can be from several hours to several days. Tapes can be applied independently, without a visit to a doctor or cosmetologist. Their therapeutic effect begins 20 minutes after application. Taping can be combined with other types of therapy.
What tapes to choose?
It all depends on the problem to be solved. Based on this, it is necessary to select the material, its dimensions and the adhesive layer. With the right choice, you can expect the best results.
Size and shape
Often there are teips from 2.5 to 10 cm. Narrow bands are suitable for children, as well as for the face and other narrow areas of the body, wide bands for large areas of the body and for lymphatic drainage.
The length of the tape rolls is usually 5 meters, which allows it to be used for a long time.
On sale there are also tapes cut into narrow strips, it is convenient to use them in the form of a fan on some part of the body.
Material
As mentioned above, the material of the tapes is mainly cotton, nylon and viscose (silk).
Most often, teips made of cotton are on sale. These tapes have properties similar to human skin, so they are suitable for applications on various parts of the body. Nylon tapes have a high level of elasticity and are more suitable for sports training and for various diseases.
Viscose tapes are gentle, breathable and moisture resistant, suitable for application on sensitive areas of the body, as well as for children. Good cotton tapes always contain a small percentage of nylon in their composition, just for elasticity. Pure cotton, no nylon is inelastic.
The adhesive layer can be with a reinforced composition or with a softer one. The former have high water resistance and are suitable for athletes, especially those involved in water sports. Tapes with a soft adhesive layer can be chosen by those with sensitive skin. In addition, there are teips with other features and properties on sale.
One of the leaders in the kinesio taping market is South Korea, where they were first used. South Korean teips are distinguished by their high quality, the presence of strict state requirements and the constant improvement of products.
Using kinesio tape
If you decide to use kinesio tapes on your own, then first of all you need to familiarize yourself with the application rules, otherwise you may not get the desired effect. What general recommendations do manufacturers give us when applying teips?
The skin on the area where the tape will be applied must be clean and dry.
This is important for a better fit of the tape. Hair on the skin must first be removed. Try to do it without scratches and cuts. Tapes should not be applied to irritated skin.
Cut off the desired length of the tape, rounding its ends, as the corners of the tape can peel off. On one side, peel off the paper base and apply the tape to the skin. We must try to do it without tension. Then, peeling off the paper, lay the tape on the skin, but at the same time slightly stretching. We make sure that wrinkles do not appear on the skin.
The last 2 – 3 cm of the tape is again applied without tension, fixing it. If you need to stick more tapes nearby, make sure that they do not fall on each other, they can peel off. Once pasted, rub the tape with the palm of your hand, this contributes to a more effective fixing. The time during which the tape will be completely fixed on the skin is approximately 20-30 minutes, try to reduce active movements during this period.
After applying the tape, check your feelings. If there is a slight itching at the beginning of the tape, this is normal. If all the sensations bring further anxiety, it is better to remove it.
