02/10/2022
What Exactly Is KT Tape and How Does It Work?
If youâve run a race, youâve probably seen runners sporting strips of tapeâsometimes bright, sometimes flesh coloredâdown their legs or around their knees. You might even know that itâs called kinesiology tape (or kinesio tape and even âKT tapeâ thanks to the popular brand for short). But what does kinesiology tape do? How does it work? And can it really help?
Kinesiology tape is, quite literally, tape that you (or, really, your physical therapist or doctor) apply to your muscles. Itâs an elastic tape that provides sensory input into an area, but still allows for full range of motion.
It was developed back in the 1970s by Kenzo Kase, a chiropractic doctor, in Japan; instead of using stiff medical tape, he wanted to create something that mimicked the elasticity of human skin. While it was used widely by professional athletes, physical therapists, and trainers alike, it didnât really go mainstream until the 2008 Summer Olympicsâremember when volleyball player Kerri Walsh wore KT tape on her shoulder and subsequently won the gold medal? Now, kinesiology tape is ubiquitous in the athletic world.
How Kinesiology Tape Works
Kinesiology tape worksâwhen applied correctlyâby lifting the skin from the tissues below it. Everyone has nerve receptors in their skin, as well as in the deep layers of the fascia, muscles, and other connective tissues. it causes compression or decompression of these areas, allowing it to alter pain signals to the brain.
Itâs the tapeâs elasticity that matters most. You can use more tension to turn on or excite a muscle. For example: If someone gets surgery to repair their ACL, their quad will likely be weak. Taping the quad with maximum tension, brings those muscle fibers together, essentially causing a contraction (which is what strengthens your muscles). On the flip side, if someone has plantar fasciitis and is experiencing a lot of tightness in their calves, taping with limited tension can turn âoffâ the muscle so the person isnât receiving pain signals.
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