Strapping & Taping

BENEFITS OF RIGID TAPE:

  • Injury prevention
  • Muscle de-activation
  • Surrounding muscle support 
  • Pain relief  
  • Joint support and stability
  • Helps continue activity

 

BENEFITS OF KINESIO TAPE:

  • Pain relief  
  • Muscle activation
  • Injury recovery
  • Oedema control (swelling reduction)
  • Postural correction
  • pregnancy support
  • Assisting athletic & sports performance

Rigid Taping   

Rigid taping is a very common form of taping that has been used for many, many years especially within sport. A variation of tapes are used such as rigid zinc oxide tape, elastic adhesive bandage (EAB) and cohesive tape. It has a very different function to kinesiology tape in that it is often applied to restrict movement, support joints and inhibit muscle activation. There are very distinct benefits between kinesiology and rigid taping depending on what is to be achieved.

Rigid tape is often used to prevent re-injury by restricting a joint from going into a range that will cause injury. If a ligament or muscle has been sprained or strained the tape can be applied to take pressure and load off those structures. Soft tissue structures can weaken or atrophy when not in use for periods of time so this form of strapping & taping should be applied when the area in question will have an increase load or be more vulnerable, during an activity. Not for long periods of time unless the injury is severe.

Kinesiology Taping

Part fashion statement, fully functional! Kinesio tape has in recent years taken the sports therapy world by storm. What some see as a fad, others see as a new integral part of their sport, training and preparation. It is a special form of non restrictive tape that is applied based on the understanding of myofascial lines and movements. It featured heavily at the London 2012 Olympics with athletes proudly adorning tape with the GB flag design.

Various methods of application allow for dynamic support and muscle activation along specific lines of power or movements used in an activity (kinetic chains). It is comfortable and does not restrict full range of motion as well as having other physiological benefits such as vascular improvement and sensory nerve stimulation. It is also used to aid rehabilitation,  reduce swelling and correct posture.