Most athletes, along with non-athletes, reach for the pain-killing meds when confronted with personal injury, be it the result of accident that occurs at the workplace, or in the car, or in the sports arena. But there is a new, natural healing method that is getting a lot of attention among those people who prefer natural, non-invasive healing methods. It’s called Kinesiology tape.
Says County Line Chiropractic, accident injury clinic Plantation, Florida, you may have noticed your favorite sports athlete wearing brightly colored tape on their neck, back, legs, and arms. This isn’t a fashion statement, but is instead, K-Tape, or kinesiology tape, which is used instead of medication to treat all sorts of injuries.
What exactly is K-Tape? It’s a thin, waterproof, breathable cotton tape that can stretch along with your skin. Said not to be bulky, it provides support where needed without limiting mobility. It’s safe for both adults and kids.
According to a new report, for any physically active person, annoying injuries like muscle aches and pains can be a real downer. Enter kinesiology tape. This tape will ease sports-related (and some non-sports related) work-out injuries faster, easier, and perhaps even better than medicines.
The Benefits of K-Tape
If applied correctly, K-Tape actually feels like a second skin while never limiting your movement. That’s due to the fact the K-Tape is engineered to mimic the elasticity of human skin along with its thickness.
That said, here are some other big, drug-free benefits of kinesiology tape:
Reduction of Swelling and Inflammation
The swelling and inflammation that can come from muscle injury can be annoying and, in some cases, debilitating. Muscles that are injured naturally swell. It’s a purely physical, biological reaction. Even a hard free-weight lift at the gym can result in swelling and inflammation.
Rather than ingest pain medication and/or anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil, K-Tape provides “a holistic approach” with almost zero side effects.
A recent study states that because of its elasticity, kinesiology tape is able to lift the skin away from the swollen and inflamed muscle tissue. This provides less resistance to fluid that’s retained in both the venous and lymphatic drainage systems.
Promotion of Space Between Joints
When there is minimal joint space between bones, it can result in pain. But studies show that K-Tape increases joint space, thereby providing relief. It is especially effective on shoulders (baseball pitchers and football quarterbacks take note). In a word, K-Tape creates additional space, not only preventing bones from rubbing together but also reducing swelling and inflammation.
It also improves overall circulation.
Enhancement of Contusion and Bruise Recovery
When capillaries and small veins break beneath the skin, it causes internal bleeding and bruising. While in most cases, this is not considered a medically severe condition, it can still hurt. By applying K-Tape to the bruise, it encourages blood drainage and the movement of fresh blood to the injured area.
Biologically speaking, fresh blood is highly oxygenated and filled with the nutrients that promote healing. This process is said to be linked directly to your lymphatic system, which is designed to remove excess fluid and, in turn, assist in reducing bruising and swelling.
Because the tape lifts the skin from the muscles, there is a better fluid flow throughout the body.
Muscle Spasm and Cramping Relief
By enhancing circulation in the body, you can relieve muscle spasms and cramping. Good circulation translates into the consistent delivery of nutrients and oxygen to fatigued muscles. It cannot be emphasized enough that K-Tape is an excellent, drug-free promoter of better circulation throughout the body.
Studies show that the overall effect of K-tape on skin blood flow is an increased “circulation of the lymphatic fluids.”
Overall Support for Injured Muscles
Some people believe that K-Tape might restrict muscle movement. But in reality, it has the opposite effect. Kinesiology tape possesses elastic properties that actually match the elasticity of human skin. This makes it possible for the material to support joint pain and muscle injuries without the least bit of restricted movement.
If you’re an athlete who relies on mobility, K-Tape will support and enhance your muscles.
Reduction of Injury Risk
Since K-Tape can provide support for weak limbs, it can reduce the chance of serious injury. A study of the use of the tape for professional dancers proved that it helped mitigate both the primary and secondary injury risk that sometimes occurs to dancers.
The study also proved that kinesiology tape reduced muscle spasms and improved overall strength due to its ability to support muscle tone, along with joint movement and spacing.
