![]() ![]() Luckily, KT tape may provide relief by taking pressure off your shin and reducing inflammation. The pain is caused by an overuse of the shinbone when the muscles, tendons, and bone tissues become overworked and inflamed, says Campbell. Shin splints: This can be extremely painful. “If you have a forward flexed posture, you can use the tape around your back to help lift up the chest.” This will help re-educate the neuromuscular system and give your body a subtle cue to activate proper alignment, she explains.ĭepending on the pain and severity, various application styles can help with the following common conditions. ![]() In some cases, KT tape is even used to improve posture, notes Campbell. ![]() How To Run A Half-Marathon, Per Experts.That extra boost can help prime the muscles for higher mileage. For example, if it’s marathon season and your muscles are feeling less than 100, a pro might apply KT tape to promote blood circulation and assist in recovery. It can also be used preventatively to minimize the risk of serious injury by boosting circulation to assist in the body’s natural healing process, adds Yu. "If you have less pain and more mobility, then you’re able to perform the recreational activities you enjoy.” “It can help pain, decrease swelling or edema, and improve quality of life," she says. It’s a win-win! What is KT tape used for?ĭepending on the application, KT tape has a wide variety of uses for discomfort and swelling, says Yu. In other words, KT tape moves with your body while simultaneously supporting your muscles and joints. Unlike basic athletic tape, which is rigid and restrictive to support muscles, joints, sprains, and aches by limiting range of motion, KT tape is made to stretch 40 percent of its original length studies show. "It’s also widely used in the rehab setting for reducing swelling after an operation or injury.” The effectiveness varies on the individual and type of injury, but it’s most beneficial on short-term pain and not a long-term solution, research suggests. “It’s usually applied in the athletic population, commonly seen in runners with colorful tape along their shins, shoulders, or knees," she adds. Now it may sound too good to be true, but KT tape has specific purposes when applied correctly, says Yu. “The lifting from the tape increases that interstitial space and allows for decreased inflammation in the affected area,” Yu says. When the lymphatic and fluid system is congested with inflammation, various chemicals accumulate in the interstitial space (the fluid-filled space between the cell membrane and skin or muscles and the circulatory system) ultimately resulting in pain. While it’s not visible to the naked eye, KT tape can alleviate pain and flush lymphatic drainage (the network of vessels and organs under your skin) by microscopically lifting the skin from the tissue, says Yu. You may still be a little skeptical, but here’s everything you need to know about KT tape, what it does, and how to apply it safely, according to experts. “In the physical therapy realm, it's commonly used in the earlier stages of pain, inflammation, and swelling.” Not to mention, KT tape is an accessible and affordable care option that is a relatively quick and easy pain-management tool you can use at home, she adds. While it’s mostly seen on athletes, it serves a wide variety of therapeutic purposes, says Winnie Yu, DPT, CPT, a physical therapist and certified personal trainer at BeSpoke Treatments. Winnie Yu, DPT, CPT, is a physical therapist and certified personal trainer at BeSpoke Treatments. Meet the experts: Katherine Campbell, DPT, CPT, is a physical therapist and certified personal trainer at Blue Iron Physio. “KT tape was created to move with your body and ‘lift up’, while also being able to withstand physical activity,” she adds. Kinesiology tape (known as KT tape) is an ultra-flexible, adhesive tape applied on the skin to support your tendons, joints, and/or muscles, and was created in the early 1970s to mimic the elasticity of human skin, says Katherine Campbell, DPT, CPT, a physical therapist and certified personal trainer at Blue Iron Physio. After my stint as a collegiate pole vaulter my shins were trashed from years of pounding on hard surfaces. That quickly changed when my athletic trainer suggested applying hot pink tape for my shin splints. You’ve likely seen athletes decorated in patterns of colorful tape on their knees, shins, quads, and shoulders, and thought, does that really do anything? I was right there with you.
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