NewburySportsMassage.co.uk

Kinesiology Taping - what's it all about?

Kinesiology Taping  (or K-Taping) is very popular at  moment especially havng seen it used so widely and in such brilliant colours at the London Olympics and Paralympics - so it must work - but how?

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 Taking one step at a time, what is Kinesiology? 

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Wikipedia definition: Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms.

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Kinesiology tape is a fast growing method of sports taping used by innovative practitioners and elite athletes. Unlike traditional rigid tape, which utilises compression and immobilization in treatment, it is elastic and offers a more comfortable alternative for the patient or athlete. 

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​The tape allows the muscle or joint to continue to move through its full range of motion without losing stability or impeding circulation. It also activates the nervous and circulatory systems to initiate healing and is used by the practitioners to assist in the treatment of:
-Injured muscles
-Biomechanical dysfunction
-Postural dysfunction by improving proprioceptive feedback to the area.

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Kinesiology taping is used by athletes to:

-Shorten rehabilitation
-Improve endurance
-Improve recovery time after intense training sessions or races, as the increased circulation assists in the removal of waste products such as lactic acid.

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The course I attended and therefore the tape that Newbury Sports Massage know and understand is RockTape which has also developed a new protocol for taping called “Power Taping”. By taping the muscles associated with a particular sport, we create a sport-specific bio-kinetic chain.  Rocktape ask you to have a knowledge of the main 'anatomy trains' in order that the taping follows the known fascial lines of the body.

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The first time you have Kinesiology tape applied to you might think it merely a placebo effect. The results claimed by clients I have used RockTape on for chronic lower back ache, 'cyclists back', plantarfascilitis, lateral lower leg pain, nerve impingement, and postural taping have spoken of reduced symptoms and ability to perform their sport pain free and for longer. As a result of these successes and to further improve the results my clients achieve, Rocktaping will available as part of Newbury Sports Massage treatments where deemed appropriate.  Practicing what I preach, I have also successfully used Rocktape on my lower back, forearm, shoulder and neck!