How does it work?

The Kinesio Tape lifts the upper layers of skin, creating more space between the skin and the muscle. The space created is believed to relieve pressure on the lymph vessels creating more space for lymph flow and thus better lymph drainage through the affected area.  When the space between the fascia and the muscle is compressed, as happens during an injury, nerve receptors are also compressed, and send signals to the brain.  This information causes the brain to respond with commands to the body on how to react to the particular stimuli. Kinesio Tape alters the information that these receptors send to the brain and causes a less reactive response in the body, allowing the body to work in a more normal manner and removing some of the roadblocks that normally slow down the healing process.

Kinesio Tape is also affecting deeper tissues in the body. Increased space theoretically allows muscles greater contractility, which in turn pushes more fluid through the muscle, resulting in better muscle performance. The end results are believed to be reduced muscle fatigue,  increase in range of motion, and better quality of muscle contraction.

Kinesio Tex Tape is used to improve joint alignment by affecting the muscles and fascia and can reduce poor function of a joint by influencing opposing muscle groups and joint mobility.

Fascia and lymph have an intimate relationship with each other. Fascia is a material that divides and separates the muscles and internal organs and helps to provide support against gravity. Lymph removes fluids and chemical substances in the muscles. Lymph channels pass though fascia between the bone and the muscle and superficially between the skin and the muscle.  When the flow of lymph is restricted or increased, an accumulation of fluid occurs behind the congested area, resulting in swelling that decreases space between the muscle and skin, causing the body to react to a painful stimulus. Neurological suppression of pain occurs with a correct application of the tape to the affected area depending on the effect desired, targeting both the pain and the source of the pain .

 There are six basic concepts of the Kinesio Taping  application. They are: mechanical, fascial, space increasing, ligament/tendon support, functional, and circulatory/ lymphatic. Mechanical corrections are used for improved stability and biomechanics. Fascia or fascial corrections create or direct movement of fascia. Space corrections are used for decreasing pressure over a target tissue. Tendon/ligament corrections decrease stress on those structures. Functional corrections provide sensory stimulation to either assist or limit a motion. Circulatory/lymphatic corrections help move lymphatic fluid from more congested to less congested areas.

Kinesio Taping has also been shown to affect scars. Reductions of adhesions and pitting, softening, flattening, improved pliability, and reduction of contractures have been seen in some patients.