Kinesiology tape (K-tape) is gaining popularity with healthcare providers, patients, and athletes. I have used K-tape for more than 10 years, but it wasn't until the 2008 summer Olympics that my patients started requesting that I use K-tape as a treatment modality. As a sports chiropractor who was also an athletic trainer, I had been using different types of tape already with the main goal of locking down a joint for support. The thought of applying K-tape to support the tissue or joint while still allowing full range of motion (ROM) intrigued me, which led me to take whatever K-tape education I could find. In 2004, it was hard to find a K-tape course, but when a local course was offered. I jumped on the opportunity to be educated about its use. "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." —Albert Einstein When I first learned how to use conventional tape, it was difficult to get the outcome that I wanted while being comfortable for the athlete. It took a lot of practice to get my ankle tape jobs to look and feel good. When I teach Sports I at Palmer West. I tell my students that if they want to tape an ankle properly, they will have to do more than 100 different ankles. Perfect practice makes perfect, and for the most part, the programming for conventional taping makes sense and can be understood easily. I cannot say the same for the K-tapc education that I received. We were told many times that if we didn't K-tapc exactly as we were taught, then the taping wouldn't work. These strict parameters didn't sit well with me because some of the protocols were just too confusing or didn't make sense. For example, to inhibit a muscle, we were taught to tape from insertion to origin (I to O). To facilitate a muscle, we were taught to tape from origin to insertion (O to I). Luckily, a study helped shed some light on the importance of keeping the strict protocols in place. Lee. Chang. Chang, and Chen" presented research at the 2012 Annual Conference of Biomcchanics in Sports. Lcc's study titled "The effect of applied direction of Kinesio taping in ankle muscle strength and flexibility" examined the effect of applied direction of Kinesio taping (KT) in ankle range of motion and calf muscle strength. The ankle plantar flexor muscle strength and ankle dorsillexion ROM were assessed in knee flexion and knee extension before and after taping. Two applied directions, heel to popliteal fossa (insertion to origin of calf muscles) and popliteal fossa to heel (origin to insertion of calf muscles) were applied over both sides of the calf muscles, respectively. The results did not show a significant difference by applying the tape in one direction or the other. "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction. " —Albert Einstein Other studies have seen similar results on range of motion affect, no matter which direction the tape was applied. Yoshida and Kahano\'" applied K-tapc on the lower trunk and found ROM of trunk flexion produced a gain of 17.8 cm compared with the non-K-tape group. Merino. Mayorga. Fernandez, and Torrcs-Luquc7 found that hip and lower back flexibility had a significant increase in sit and reach distance after K-tapc was applied. Gonzalcz-Iglcsias. Fcrnandcz-de-Las-Peiias. Clcland. Huijbrcgts. and Del Rosario Guticrrcz-Vcga5 assessed cenical range of motion before and after taping, and revealed that all directions of ccn ical spine movement had improved significantly. These studies also applied K-Tapc from insertion to origin direction. We know anccdotally and from previous studies that an increase in range of motion and increase in strength can occur when tape is applied. More important than having strict protocols, testing and retesting the affected muscle or joint is cnicial. Watch this video on the prc and posttaping of a postsurgical groin avulsion. This was the third attempt at correcting the dysfunctional squat pattern (the first two "usual techniques" made the squat pattern worse). If test and retcst hadn't been applied here, we would never have seen such a dramatic result and a happy patient. In conclusion, keep in mind what one of my favorite people, Chris Frankcl. PhD(c) (and the smartest person in fitness) has been known to say. "All programming is wrong. Some is better than others." We need to keep exploring and experimenting with ways to achieve better outcomes with our patients. Move well. Be well. References: 1. Chang. H.Y.. Chou. K.Y.. Lin. J.J.. Lin. C.F.. & Wang. C.H. (2010). Immediate effect of forearm Kinesio taping on maximal grip strength and force sense in health) collegiate athletes. Physical Therapy in Sport. 11:122-127. Fu. T.C.. Wong. A.M.. Pci. Y.C.. Wu. K.P. Chou. S.W.. & Lin. Y.C. (2008). Effect of Kinesio taping on muscle strength in athletes— A pilot study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 11:198-201. Gon/ilcz-Iglesias, J.. Fernandcz-dc-Las-Penas. C. Clcland. J.A., Huijbrcgts. P.. & Del Rosario Gutierrez-Vega. M. (2009). Short-tcrin effects of cervical Kincsio taping on pain and cervical range of motion in patients with acute whiplash injury: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 39(7):515-521. Kemler. E.. vande Port. I.. Backx. F.. & vanDijk. C.N. (2011). A systematic re\ iew on the treatment of acute ankle sprain: brace versus other functional treatment types. Sports Medicine. 41(3): 185-97. Kase. K.. Wallis. J.. & Kasc. T. (2003). Clinical Therapeutic Ap plications of the Kincsio Taping Method. Tokyo. Japan: Ken Ikai Co Ltd. Kase. K.. & Wallis. J. (2002). The latest Kincsio taping method. Tokyo. Japan. Ski-Journal. Lee. J.H.. Yoo. W.G.. & Lee. K.S. (2010). Effects of head-neck rotation and Kincsio taping of the flexor muscles on dominant hand grip strength. Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 22:285-289. Merino. R.. Mayorga. D.. Fernandez. E.. & Torrcs-Luque. G. (2010). Effect of Kincsio taping on hip and lower trunk range of mo tion in triathleles. Apilol study. Journal of Sport and Health Research. 2(2): 109-118. Slupik. A.. Dwornik. M.. Bialoszcwski. D.. & Z\cli. E. (2007). Effect of Kinesio taping on bioelectrical activity of vastus medialis muscle. Preliminary report. Orlopedia Traumalologia Rehabilitacja. 9(6).644-651. Vithoulka. I.. Bcncka. A.. Malliou. P.. ct al. (2010). The effects of Kincsio-Taping R on quadriceps strength during isokinctic exercise in healthy nonathlctc women. Isokinctics and Exercise Science. 18:1-6. Yoshida. A.. & Kahanov. L. (2007). The effect of Kinesio tap ing on lower trunk range of motions. Research in Sports Medicine. 15:103-112. Lee. Y.Y.. Chang. H.Y.. Chang. Y.C.. Chen. J.M. (2012). The effect of applied direction of Kinesio taping in ankle muscle strength and flexibility. 30th Annual Conference of Biomechanics in Sports - Melbourne 2012 EdLeCara, DC, PhD.ATC, CSCS is board certified in sports medicine and rehabilitation. He is a chiropractic clinician, educator and on the medical advisory board for Rocklape. He provides live and online ednca- lion for movement professionals at www.Healthandll'ellnessProvid-ers.com. To contact him, email at drlecara'cWportsPlusBayArea. com or follow on Twitter: (cbjdrlecara. He hosts a monthly webinar demonstrating different taping applications and answers questions. Look on Google Hangouts under 'Basics of Kinesiology Taping' for his next event.
