Alpha Chiropractic
Kinesio Taping
Tape applied to interfere with pain signals, lift the skin to move blood through a swollen area, and take some of the fatigue out of a working muscle.
Chapter 01
Three separate jobs the tape does
Kinesio tape does more than hold something in place. It interferes with pain signals traveling along the skin and the muscle underneath it, which is one reason patients notice less discomfort once it is applied.
It also lifts the skin slightly away from the tissue below, which promotes blood flow and helps reduce swelling and inflammation in the area. On top of that, it reduces muscle fatigue, so a muscle doing repeated work has a little more left in it before it tires.
Treatment and massage room at Alpha Chiropractic with Natural Healing wall art
Why athletes wear it
Professional athletes use kinesio tape for proprioception, the body's sense of where a joint or limb is in space, and for movement generally. A taped joint gives the brain a clearer signal about its position during activity.
That is the same reason it shows up on shoulders, knees and backs during games and matches. It is a support during movement, not a treatment applied at rest.
Chapter 03
When taping is added
Kinesio taping is added as a support to the rest of a patient's care, not as a treatment on its own. It gets layered in alongside an adjustment or soft tissue work when it fits what a patient is dealing with.
Dr. Matt decides whether taping is worth adding based on what he sees in a visit, the same way he chooses between adjusting techniques.
Alpha Chiropractic, In-network with most major insurance companies. Call (701) 751-8300.