What Does Tape Do?

Kineso-Tape application for pregnancy related low back pain and pelvic pain.

Patients often ask me “Doc, What Does Tape Do?” The tape I use at Dalhousie Health & Wellness is called kineso-tape, it’s flexible, breathable and moves with you. Because of these qualities, this type of taping technique is called a functional taping.

A functional taping is applied to help control pain, reduce swelling, and help proper muscle functioning.

How Does the Tape Control Pain?

The tape stimulates receptors on the skin, in turn calming the body’s pain response. The best way I can explain this is with an example of bumping your elbow. When you hit your funny bone, your first reaction is to rub your elbow. The rubbing action on the skin helps the pain go away. The tape acts in the same way as your hand rubbing your elbow, and the receptors in the skin are stimulated which help to control pain.

How Does the Tape Reduce Swelling?

The tape reduces swelling by lifting the tissues in a wave-like pattern. This wave-like pattern creates more space in the surrounding tissues and allows movement of inflammation and swelling to drain out of the injured area. There are many different applications for inflammation control. Your doctor will determine the type of taping to help reduce your swelling.

How Does the Tape Help Proper Muscle Functioning?

The tape itself can create support and take a load off overtaxed muscles. This can allow overworked muscles to relax a little, and let others help out. Your chiropractor is trained to determine which muscles need a little help, and where the tape can best be applied.

What’s in The Tape?

After I explain how the kineso-Tape works, I often still get the question “Doc, What’s in The Tape?” Although it does seem to work like magic, kineso-Tape doesn’t have any mystical powers. There are no special ingredients just plain old stretchy, breathable and movable tape. At Dalhousie Health & Wellness your chiropractor has taken special training in the application of kineso-Tape.