While watching the Olympics over the past few weeks you may have noticed many athletes wearing a colored tape on their knees, low backs, shoulders or wrists.

This tape is called Kinesio tape, and it is a latex-free, waterproof tape that can be worn while performing activities. This tape was designed to move with the person or athlete in order to not decrease range of motion, much like a rigid white athletic tape may. This tape is applied by a certified provider with a variety of different purposes. The tape can be worn to support injured muscle or joints, as well as decrease inflammation associated with an injury.

While this tape is used in my office frequently with athletes, it also has great benefits for the general population. This tape can benefit individuals suffering from both athletic injuries, injuries of daily living such as low back pain and repetitive use injuries such as tennis elbow. One of the greatest benefits we see with this tape is the fact that it can be worn up to three or four days. The tape is waterproof, so bathing has no effect on the tape or the therapeutic benefit. This allows the patient or athlete to receive care while they are not in the clinic and they are participating in their normal activities.

To find out if Kinesio tape may benefit you, contact a certified Kinesio tape provider or go online to kinesiotaping.com.

 

Matthew M. Tubbs

doctor of chiropractic

Tubbs Chiropractic

Albert Lea