The Paralympic Games are underway in Rio in September. And like the Olympic Games, we again see a lot of brightly colored tape on the skin of world-class athletes. I was recently asked about the purpose of this tape. In the health profession we call this “super stretchy tape constructed of cotton and elastic fibers” by a simpler name: Kinesio Tape. It has applications not only in the world of sports medicine but also in my own world of pediatric therapy.
Athletes use Kinesio Tape for multiple reasons such as stabilizing a frequently used shoulder. The same taping application can be used for a child with Down Syndrome who has low muscle tone and needs extra input to stabilize her shoulder while she crawls or plays with toys. Kinesio Tape can also relieve pain by promoting the draining of fluid from an injured area.
The “magic” of Kinesio Tape stems from how it is applied. I heavily rely on my training in anatomy, physiology and the musculoskeletal system every time I use Kinesio Tape. For example, where I first apply the Kinesio Tape to the skin and the direction I stretch the tape really matters. One direction will facilitate movement while the opposite direction inhibits movement. This has many wonderful applications in pediatric therapy such as helping a child develop better posture control or addressing pain in joints and tendons.
As a therapist, I strive to provide the best, most effective treatment for kids to have success meeting their therapy goals. However, an even greater goal is to help kids build the strength and courage to win “gold medals” in their most important contests…THEIR LIVES!