Kinesiology Taping for Pain Relief

Pain relief is one of the most common goals in kinesiology tape applications. The rule of thumb when pain relief is the desired outcome is to stretch the affected muscle before taping, then to apply the tape with no stretch in the tape itself. The natural elasticity of the tape creates a microscopic lifting action of the skin, which activates both neurological and circulatory healing mechanisms. Steps for Applying Kinesiology Tape for Pain Relief

1. If possible, begin with a few gentle stretching exercises of the painful area to pre-stretch the muscle fibers. Right before taping, gently stretch the painful area to the limit of its pain-free range.
2. Cut a strip of tape long enough to cover the entire affected muscle group. You can choose between applying a single strip directly over the injured area or cutting the strip longitudinally into a Y shape and applying the ‘arms’ of the tape around the outer borders of the muscle group.
3. With the muscle in its maximum stretched position, remove the backing from the first 2″ of the tape and apply to the lower end of the injured area with NO STRETCH IN THE TAPE.  Continue peeling the backing from the tape, lightly pressing the tape against the skin as it comes off the backing paper.
4. When the entire strip has been applied, place the muscle back into a neutral position and rub the tape briskly from the center towards the ends to activate the adhesive. In most cases, the tape will appear rippled after the muscle is released from the contracted position. With proper application, pain relief is usually immediate and typically lasts for the entire taping period.

The following selection of videos demonstrate how to apply kinesiology tape for pain relief: Kinesiology Taping Instructions for Pain Relief Using SpiderTech PowerStrips How to tape for Neck Pain or Neck Spasms with RockTape Kinesiology Tape Knee Pain Kinesiology Tape Instructions with SpiderTech Precut Knee Tape Stay up to date with Theratape! Sign up for our Newsletter or add us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+!