Knee Taping For Pain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Athletic taping is the process of applying tape directly to the skin or over pre-wrap in order to maintain a stable position of bones and muscles during athletic activity. It is a procedure that uses athletic tape ( pressure-sensitive tape similar to surgical tape or elastic therapeutic tape ), attached to the skin, to physically hold muscles or bones at a certain position.
Contents
- 1 Will taping my knee help knee pain?
- 2 Is it good to tape your knee?
- 3 Is taping better than a brace knee?
- 4 Why do athletes wear tape on their knees?
- 5 How long can you wear KT tape?
- 6 What are the pros and cons of taping?
- 7 Can I leave KT Tape on overnight?
- 8 What are the benefits of KT tape on the knee?
- 9 How do you use KT tape for knee stability?
Will taping my knee help knee pain?
While taping your knee won’t magically cure all its issues, it can help with pain, stability, function and swelling when done correctly.
Is it good to tape your knee?
Taping your knee can help stabilize it when you’re active and can give relief from pain. You can choose from many kinds of tapes and taping methods to tape your knees for support. Talk with your doctor or physical therapist about the best option for you.
The two main kinds of tape have been effective in different studies. Rigid tape. This type doesn’t stretch. It’s designed to help keep an area from moving. Elastic tape. This type, also called kinesio tape, is designed to be the same weight and thickness as your skin. It’s made of stretchy cotton with adhesive on one side.
This is the brightly colored tape you’ve probably seen on athletes during races and games. Kinesio tape offers stability but with a wider range of motion than rigid tape. Keeping a joint from moving can sometimes make it stiffer. The McConnell technique.
Sit with your leg slightly bent and stretched out in front of you.Cut 2 pieces of adhesive gauze and put them across your kneecap to protect your skin.Start the strip of rigid tape in the middle of the kneecap and pull it over the kneecap toward the inner part of your knee. Push the soft tissue on your inner knee toward the kneecap.Secure the tape to the inner side of the kneecap.
Kinesio taping technique. This method used the more flexible elastic tape to support your knee while allowing a good range of motion. You’ll need two pre-cut Y strips and two pre-cut I strips. Rub the tape to activate the adhesive after you put on each strip.
Sit in a chair with your knee bent.Put on the bottom part of the Y-shaped piece of tape starting at mid-thigh.Slightly stretch one tail of the Y-shaped tape and around one side of the kneecap, coming back to the center below the kneecap.Repeat with the other tail on the other side of your kneecap. The kneecap should be surrounded.Take the other piece of Y-shaped tape and put on the bottom part, starting several inches below the kneecap.Slightly stretch one tail of the Y-shaped tape and apply it around the kneecap, ending on the outside of the other strip.Repeat with the other tail on the other side of your kneecap. Place the middle of the first I strip below the kneecap.Straighten your knee slightly and continue applying the strip upward on either side of the thigh, outside of the Y strips.Repeat with the second I strip placed slightly lower than the first.
These are only two methods of many. Your doctor or physical therapist can help you find the best method to help with your issues. Taping should be only one part of an overall plan to manage your knee pain. Depending on the cause, your treatment plan may also include: Weight loss.
Being overweight puts a lot of stress on your joints. For every 1 pound of extra weight you carry, 2 to 4 pounds of extra pressure is placed on your knees. If you’re overweight, losing weight is the most important thing you can do for your knees. Physical therapy. Exercise can help strengthen your knee and improve your range of motion.
If you have arthritis, physical therapy may focus on strengthening your hips. When your hips are weak, your knees have to do more work. A physical therapist can also help you figure out whether you need braces or assistive devices. Medicines. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help with flare-ups but can cause problems when you take them long-term.
Does KT tape help with knee problems?
People with arthritis in the knee can use kinesiology tape (KT tape) on their skin to alleviate pain and improve knee function. Kinesiology tape (KT tape) can help improve circulation, support muscles, and joints, and prevent muscle injuries. If an individual has a condition or injury that affects their functional mobility, they may benefit from using kinesiology tape.
Arthritis causes painful inflammation in the joints and can reduce a person’s range of motion. In this article, we outline what kinesiology tape is, how it works, and how it may benefit people with knee arthritis, Kinesiology tape is a type of fine, breathable, and stretchable dressing. It is usually cotton or a cotton blend.
People wear the tape on their skin, often around a joint or muscle, typically during exercise or when doing sports. The tape’s elasticity does not restrict the application area, meaning it does not impact a person’s range of motion. Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor, developed kinesiology tape in 1973,
He hypothesized that an external component could aid the function of muscles and other tissues. Many athletes and sportspeople wear kinesiology tape when active to provide their muscles and joints with extra support and to avert injury, Arthritis causes inflammation in the joints. This can result in the breakdown and gradual loss of joint cartilage, which can cause a person to experience pain and difficulty moving.
Kinesiology tape may be an effective treatment for knee arthritis. A person can apply the tape to help reduce pain and improve their range of motion. One small 2017 study involved 42 people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), Half the participants received kinesiology tape, and the other half received a placebo tape.
- The study authors found that the kinesiology tape resulted in better pain relief, improved walking, and improved knee-flexion range of motion, compared with the placebo tape.
- A 2019 study following 141 participants with knee OA showed that wearing kinesiology tape for 3 consecutive days was beneficial.
The participants wearing the kinesiology tape reported reduced pain and joint stiffness and improved knee function, unlike the participants who wore a sham tape. Another small 2019 study involving 10 older adults with knee OA found that using kinesiology tape on the knee had a positive effect on pain reduction, walking, and balance.
- patella tracking problems
- tendon issues
- instability
- general knee pain
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to provide full knee support using kinesiology tape.
- Take a full piece of kinesiology tape, fold it in half, and cut rounded corners around the folded end of the tape. You will be left with two smaller pieces of tape.
- Place the first half of the piece of tape horizontally just below the knee cap. Place this piece with 80% stretch.
- Place the second half of the tape on top of the first half with 80% stretch.
- Take a new piece of tape and peel the backing off one end. Lay the tape down the thigh until the other end sits just below the outer side of the knee cap. Once this is in place, stick the top end of the tape to the thigh to provide an anchor point.
- Slowly remove the remaining backing and gradually apply the tape down the outside of the thigh with 25% stretch. This piece should run down the outer edge of the knee cap and wrap around the front of the knee. Apply 50% stretch to the section of tape that runs alongside the knee.
- Take the final piece and remove the backing off one end. Apply it next to the top of the second piece on the opposite side of the thigh.
- Slowly remove the backing and gradually apply the tape down the inside of the thigh with 25% stretch. This piece should run down the inner edge of the knee cap and wrap around the front of the knee. Apply 50% stretch to the section of tape that runs alongside the knee.
- To finish, give all of the tape a rub to create friction. This creates heat and helps the adhesive work properly.
Many factors can impact the effectiveness of kinesiology tape. Below are some do’s and don’ts for applying this kind of tape.
Is taping better than a brace knee?
Taping is a very short-term solution to what could be a long-term problem. Athletic tape is a quick fix, but it is best used to reinforce a joint that has previously recovered from an injury. Athletic braces are a longer lasting fix for sports injuries, but like taping, they too have their flaws.
Why does my knee hurt a lot?
Pain – knee Knee pain is a common symptom in people of all ages. It may start suddenly, often after an injury or exercise. Knee pain also may begin as a mild discomfort, then slowly get worse. Leg pain in older children or young adolescents can occur for many reasons. An Osgood-Schlatter lesion results from continued trauma to the anterior tibial bone and causes a visible lump below the knee. The muscular components of the lower leg include the gastrocnemius, soleus, peroneus longus, tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, and the Achilles tendon. The location of knee pain can help identify the problem. Pain on the front of the knee can be due to bursitis, arthritis, or softening of the patella cartilage as in chondromalacia patella. Pain on the sides of the knee is commonly related to injuries to the collateral ligaments, arthritis, or tears to the meniscuses.
Pain in the back of the knee can be caused by arthritis or cysts, known as Baker’s cysts. Baker’s cysts are an accumulation of joint fluid (synovial fluid) that forms behind the knee. Overall knee pain can be due to bursitis, arthritis, tears in the ligaments, osteoarthritis of the joint, or infection.
Instability, or giving way, is also another common knee problem. Instability is usually associated with damage or problems with the meniscuses, collateral ligaments, or patella tracking. A Baker cyst is seen as a swelling behind the knee. It forms when joint fluid collects behind the knee. The swelling may be due from inflammation or from other causes, like arthritis. The condition can be seen in both adults and children. Tendinitis is inflammation, irritation, and swelling of a tendon, which is the fibrous structure that joins muscle to bone. Tendinitis pain in the knee is located in the front of the knee. The pain gets worse when going up and down stairs or inclines. Tendinitis knee pain can happen in runners, skiers, and cyclists.
Can you sleep with kinesiology tape on?
Can you wear kinesiology tape to bed? – Wearing kinesiology tape to bed may provide short-term relief from pain and may help you get a good night’s sleep. However, it is important to note that wearing kinesiology tape to bed should only be used as an occasional treatment option and should not be relied on as a sole source of relief.
Does patellar taping work?
Patellofemoral pain taping is excellent for relieving symptoms of Patella pain and Fat pad impingement. It works by helping to control the position of your patella (kneecap). Medically reviewed by Dr Chaminda Goonetilleke, 13th Dec.2021
Can you get knee tape wet?
Tips for Taping Success – Kinesiology tape is a proven therapy that produces physiological effects on the neuromuscular, lymphatic and circulatory systems. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with other treatment modalities. Unfortunately, applying therapeutic tape isn’t foolproof.
- Get evaluated: Before you or a health professional applies tape, it’s important to get a complete evaluation, including muscle testing, range of motion and gait testing. In some cases, your doctor may need to treat an underlying condition before you can consider tape therapy.
- Work with a professional: Find someone who holds a certification in the type of tape you’d like to use. Athletic trainers, physical therapists, chiropractors and even massage therapists may be qualified to apply kinesiology tape.
- Stay out of the heat: Kinesiology tape is heat-activated, but it’s also water-resistant. So, while a hot tub soak or hot shower won’t affect the tape, dry heat can change the chemical properties of the tape, making it sticky and hard to remove. You can still wear it outside in the summertime without worry. Just be aware that too much heat may be problematic.
- Don’t rely on the tape: Tape is meant to act as a sort of bridge to help you get past an issue or concern. It’s not meant to be a lifelong treatment.
If you’re suffering from an injury, pain or swelling from lymphedema, ask your doctor or physical therapist if kinesiology tape is appropriate for you. To find a doctor or physical therapist at Henry Ford, visit henryford.com or call 1-800-HENRYFORD (436-7936). Kristin Levin is a certified athletic trainer at Henry Ford Medical Center – Ford Road in Dearborn.
Why do athletes wear tape on their knees?
Rehabilitation – Though athletic tape can help prevent injuries caused by exercise, injuries can, unfortunately, still occur. When they do, athletic tape can be the effective remedy you need. The use of traditional athletic tape in limiting the range of motion for certain muscles and joints can help the body heal faster versus if the movement was not restricted.
It can also serve as a splint for sprained joints, which helps the injury heal at a much faster rate as well. By compressing the muscle, traditional athletic tape can help decrease swelling, which can alleviate pain and prevent further injury. Elastic therapeutic tape is used for the same reasons but in different ways.
By helping to increase blood flow in the injured area, athletic tape decreases swelling which alleviates pain. The elasticity of the athletic tape can also serve as support for the affected muscles. It naturally goes back to its original position, which takes some of the workload off of the athlete’s muscle.
How long can you wear KT tape?
How K-Tape Works – K-Tape stabilizes joints and supports the treated area to help decrease pain and swelling. The tape lifts the skin slightly so that pressure is reduced around the body’s pain receptors. By slightly lifting the skin, the tape also allows increased lymphatic absorption of excess fluid which reduces bruising.
The elastic quality of the K-Tape supports the muscles like a second skin, which helps the muscles contract back to the resting position. K-Tape is designed to stay on for an average of 3-4 days. The adhesive is heat sensitive, so your doctor will rub the tape to make sure it properly adheres to your skin.
After 1-2 hours of normal activity, the K-Tape should be properly bonded to the treated area. After the tape has formed a strong bond, it can be difficult to remove. You can exercise while wearing the tape without any problems. However, we do not recommend swimming with the K-Tape on because chemicals in pool water can deteriorate the adhesive and loosen the tape.
What does KT tape actually do?
What Is Kinesiology Tape? Kinesiology refers to the study of movement. Kinesio tape, as it’s often called, got its name because it is used to aid muscle movement. It’s a thin, flexible tape that is meant to relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation, and provide support to joints and muscles.
What are the pros and cons of taping?
Disadvantages of taping –
Does taping reduce pain?
Five of the top benefits of using this method are: –
- Decreased Pain : By gently applying pressure, kinesiology tape helps to disrupt and dissipate pain.
- Increased Circulation and Decreased Inflammation : The tape can help remove congestion while allowing efficient circulation of oxygenated blood and lymphatic fluids. Circulation flushes out irritants, thereby reducing inflammation and chemical buildup and fostering a speedy recovery.
- Improved Posture and Muscle Support: Taping areas that veer away from correct posture can help gently support proper posture. Proper taping also enables weak muscles to function efficiently, reduces pain and fatigue, and protects against cramping, over-extension, and over-contraction.
- Improved Athletic Performance : By supporting unstable joints and delivering slight pressure to “sleeping” muscles, taping can prompt higher performance. Unlike other assistive devices that can lead to dependence on them for stability and support, kinesiology tape trains the body to become independent and efficient.
- Supported endogenous analgesic system: The tape enables the body’s own healing mechanisms to work in the recovery process. (“Endogenous” means “internal,” and “analgesic” means “relieving pain.”)
Can I leave KT Tape on overnight?
‘It is a rigid, highly adhesive tape that is mostly used to support a structure or restrict its movement.’ She adds that this sort of sticky stuff is designed to be worn for less than a day— 18 hours at most.
Can I leave KT Tape on in the shower?
Care of Kinesio Tape® Kinesio Tape® is water resistant. You may shower, bathe and swim with Kinesio Tape® on the skin. Let the tape air dry, or pat dry with a towel (do not use a hair dryer to dry). Avoid sun/excessive heat on the tape.
What are the benefits of KT tape on the knee?
What is it? – KT tape is an elastic adhesive used to support and relieve pain in muscles, joints, and/or ligaments. It reduces swelling, increases mobility and enhances recovery. KT Tape can be used to prevent or treat many common muscle and joint related injuries including: sprains, muscle strains, subluxations, and tendonitis.
Can KT tape be used on knee ligaments?
KT tape for Knee Indication: General Knee Pain, Patella Femoral Pain Syndrome, Patellar Tendinopathy Technique #1:
Sit with the knee bent at 90 degrees and maintain this position during the taping procedure. Cut a strip of K-tape about 3 inches long and 2 strips of K-tape about 5 inches long. Using the 3 inch K tape, apply 75% tension on either side of of the tape. Apply the centre of the tape directly onto the patellar tendon. Release the tension on the tape as you lay down either end of the tape along the side of the knee.
Locate the centre point mid length down the front of the thigh. Next, locate the tibial tuberosity which will be a prominent bump below the knee cap. The next 2 strips of K-tape will start at the centre point mid length down the thigh and end at the tibial tuberosity. Apply one of the 5 inch strips to this centre point of the thigh. Apply 25% tension on the K-tape and lay the first half of the tape along the lateral lower half of the thigh. As you approach the knee apply 50 percent tension along the second half of the tape wrapping it around the knee cap. Apply no tension as you lay down the end of the tape at the tibial tuberosity. Repeat this same technique for the medial side of the thigh and knee. Using the backing paper of the tape rub the K-tape and heat activate the glue on the tape.
Indication: MCL/LCL Knee Sprain Technique #2:
Sit with the knee bent at 90 degrees and maintain this position during the taping procedure. Cut 4 strips of K-tape about 5 inches long. Apply one end of the K-tape with no tension along the tibial tuberosity. Apply 50% tension as you wrap the tape around the lateral side of the knee cap and up toward the centre point mid length of the thigh. Repeat the same technique on the medial side of the knee and thigh.
Place one end of the K tape along the lateral side of the lower leg. Apply 50% tension on the tape as you apply the strip across the lateral side of the knee. Apply no tension as you lay down the end of the tape along the lateral thigh. This strip of K-tape will help support the LCL (lateral collateral ligament) ligament and provide you more stability. Repeat the same technique on the medial side of the knee to help support the MCL (medial collateral ligament). Using the backing paper of the tape rub the K-tape and heat activate the glue on the tape.
: KT tape for Knee
How do you use KT tape for knee stability?
How To KT Tape A Knee – Easy Kinesio Tape Guide In this video tutorial, Jupiter chiropractor, Dr. Nevel, demonstrates how to apply KT Tape, Rock Tape, and Kinesio Tape for Knee Pain. These taping techniques are used by the best chiropractors, physical therapists, and sports medicine doctors.
- Step By Step Taping Instructions: 1.
- Make sure the skin is clean.2.
- Cut four 14-inch strips and two 10-inch strips.3.
- Round the corners of the tape to better durability.4.
- Have the patient flex the knee 45 degrees.5.
- Apply two 14-inch strips at approximately 40% tension around the knee cap to the quadricep (thigh) muscles with 0% tension on the ends.6.
Apply the 10-inch strips to the medial and lateral knee with approximately 40% tension with 0% tension on the ends.7. Apply two 14-inch strips at approximately 40% tension to the hamstring muscles with 0% tension on the ends.8. Rub the tape to activate the adhesive.
Products used in this video: **Kinesio Tape** Rock Tape – Standard size Rock Tape – Bulk size **Scissors** Kinesio Tape Pro Scissors Various colors of Rock Tape can be purchased at our Jupiter, FL chiropractic office. Video Transcription:
How do you Kinesio Tape a knee? In this video, you’re going to learn how I Kinesio Tape knees in my Jupiter, FL chiropractic practice for general knee pain as well as a few tips and tricks that chiropractors, physical therapists, medical doctors use to make Kinesio taping easier.
Hey guys! What’s cracking? It’s Dr. Nevel, aka Dr. Ginga Ninja, aka the firecracker chiropractor! On this channel, we demonstrate different types of chiropractic treatments, periodic medical product reviews, as well as “how-to” videos, just like this one. If you’re new here, consider subscribing and make sure you ring that bell, so you never miss one of our videos! Any products that we use during this video will always be listed in the description and are available at our Jupiter chiropractic office.
With that being said, let’s get cracking! What is Kinesiology Tape? Kinesiology tape, also called Kinesio Tape, is an elastic therapeutic tape that helps support joints and muscles. It can be found on both professional and recreational athletes but gained a lot of popularity during the 2008 Olympics.
- Inesio Tape is different than traditional athletic tape because of the elastic properties as well as the wave adhesive pattern on the back.
- Instead of restricting movement like traditional athletic tape, Kinesio Tape adds support to the joints and soft tissue while still allowing full range and motion.
The first step in Kinesio Taping a knee is making sure the skin is prepped and cleaned. Since Kinesio Tape naturally doesn’t like any oils or lotions, use alcohol to make sure the skin is prepped and cleaned. For today’s taping, we are going to use four 14-inch strips of tape as well as two 10-inch strips of tape.
- PRO TIP #1: Round the corners of the tape and it won’t catch on clothing and it will last longer.
- PRO TIP #2: To remove the tape from the paper, don’t try to peel it from the edge.
- Instead, tear the paper from the back and then peel away.
- When taping, make sure that the ends are never applied with tension.
Remove the back of the paper from the end, apply the first strip on the lower leg and pull it at approximately at 40% tension. Pull the tape around the medial patella and up the quadricep. The end is applied with zero tension. Do the same with the other strip, rip the end of the tape and apply the end of the tape with zero tension.
Pull to 40% tension around outside of the kneecap and then up the quadricep again with no tension at the end. Then apply the two 10-inch strips to the medial and lateral sides of the knee for extra support. Again, the ends have no tension. This strip of Kinesio Tape is applied at approximately 30-40% tension along the outside of the knee to support the lateral collateral ligament and we will do the same along the inside of the knee for the MCL.
PRO TIP #3: Make sure you rub the tape to activate the adhesive so the tape sticks and lasts longer. If your knee pain also has hamstring involvement, you will want to Kinesio Tape the hamstrings as well. To do this we will need to first stretch the hamstrings.
- Instead of bringing the leg up, you can also have your patient bend over at the waist to stretch the hamstrings.
- You are going to apply the end with zero tension on the top of the calf.
- Pull the KT tape at approximately 40% tension along the medial hamstring and apply the end with zero tension.
- The same technique is used for the lateral hamstring tendon as well.
Apply the end with zero tension, pull at approximately 30-40% tension, and again rub the KT tape to activate the adhesive. In today’s video, we demonstrated just one way to Kinesio Tape knees for general knee pain, but there are a lot of different ways to Kinesio Tape knees based on specific injuries.
Which leads me into the question of the day; Have you ever used Kinesio Tape for knee pain? What have your experiences been? Let me know in the comments below and if you found this video helpful, punch that like button,, and we will see you in the next video! DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase from one of the product links, Sport & Spinal Rehab receives a small commission.
There is no additional cost to the purchaser. : How To KT Tape A Knee – Easy Kinesio Tape Guide