United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

We use KinesioTex (I think that's what it's called) and I pretty much leave it on until it's coming off on its own. The last few days, I keep trimming off the loose bits until it's all really, loose. Then I gently unpeal from the skin what's left and it usually only leaves minor redness that goes away after a few days. It's on maybe 10 days, then off a week.

I have to add... I thought the stuff was gimicky but certainly couldn't hurt. Our PT is taking a course on taping in the fall, but we were shown by another PT at the hospital and have been doing it on our own (with hypothetical suggestions from our regular PT )

The first time we used the stuff, I was also having a lot of trouble with both ankles - I had taken a misstep and hurt one ankle trying not to break the other one! Saved myself from broken bones, but both ankles were KILLING me across the top of the arches.

So, I figured "what the heck" and put a strip of tape across each arch over the sore spots. Well, I could only feel the tape on my foot for about the first 5 minutes and then I couldn't even feel if it was there. BUT... my ankles IMMEDIATELY stopped hurting and stayed not hurting until the tape came off. They hurt a little more after I took the tape off the first time (it only stayed on me about 4 days) but then stopped hurting again after I reapplied the tape and haven't bothered me since.

According to my completely unscientific experiment... the stuff is amazing

Kate

can anyone explain how the kinesio tape is supposed to work? To me it looks like it isn't really srtong enough to hold anything or support anything in place - it seems strange to me that it seems to be effective for so many.

The basic explanation...

Kinesio tape supposed to give continuous "sensation" to the muscles to stimulate them, so you want to use the tape on muscles where you are trying to activate them. It's like a reminder to the muscles "hey, remember us, you can activate us now...."

Leuko tape is supposed to provide strength to stabilize the muscles, so you use it on muscles that you are trying to keep more in place. For instance on the muscles around the scapula, you would tend to put the scapula in a good position, then put the tape down to help the muscles hold that position with the hope that you are providing muscle memory on how the muscles are supposed to hold the scapula in place.

Thanks for your reply Lisa , but we have been told to use kinesio tape on muscles we want to inhibit as well, like the too strong pec and bicep and traps. These are the muscles pulling him into internal rotation.

The theory that I've heard is that it stimulates the afferent pathways back to the brain - it basically heightens the brain's awareness of the muscle. So I guess it could also help awareness of a muscle that was incorrectly "on" all the time, too?

We haven't used if for that purpose - I should try some on my tight back and see if it works

Has anybody else played with this stuff on themselves? When I ordered our tape, I got a bunch of random handouts and such, it looks very interesting. There is even a tape technique for carpal tunnel.

Kate

Vanda, Lisa & Kate,
I appreciate your posts of August 10th. Taping is a new concept to me. My interest is peaked now. Can you, or anyone, post websites about the 2 kinds of taping?

Kate, I too hope to hear answers to your question. Since my LOBPI daughter is 20, could it still help her? She also has that winging scapula.

And when she does have pain in her upper back, it is hard to know if it is from her BPI or her other circumstances. Thanks. A

Kinesiotaping.com is a great website that explains how the tape works. From there I read...

"Kinesio Tex Tape is applied over muscles to reduce pain & inflammation, relax overused tired muscles, and to support muscles in movement on a 24hr/day basis. It is not a restrictive type of taping, and allows for full range of motion. In contrast, traditional sports' taping is wrapped around a joint strictly for stabilization and support during a sporting event. Kinesio® Tex Tape is used for anything from headaches to foot problems and every thing in-between. Examples include: carpal tunnel syndrome, lower back strain/pain (subluxations, herniated disc), knee conditions, shoulder conditions, and sports injuries, etc."

They had a neat explanation about lymphonic fluid being allowed to move over the muscles and help the healing process...as opposed to restrictive tape that blocks the flow...This is more the technical explanation then I gave of the "hey remember we're here" explanation of why the tape is used to stimulate the muscles.

Perhaps the PT is using the tape with the goal of relaxing these overused muscles and making sure they get those fluids?

Lisa

I haven't searched for a website on leuko taping, but I'm sure there is one out there. I would have a therapist try the leuko tape first on the back to help stabilize the scapula. When I had it on it was a constant reminder for better posture and maybe the back pain is a secondary response to her posturing. Unless she's allergic to the tape, it shouldn't really hurt to try it out for a few hours at a time. You have to be shown the proper taping position from an expert though... Later she could experiment with the Kinesio and see what feels/works better..if at all. Not all therapists are trained in both kinds of taping, and I'd go with a therapist who was actually trained and really understands the concepts.

Angela,

Just curious, is your daughter's trunk shortened on the BPI side?

Lisa

Angela, the most effective thing for Richard's winging for us has been TES -He is 13 yrs - and we had no improvement for years - but this year we started TES and bracing and it has really helper - we still continue with the stretching and exercise but the TES has really allowed great gains. WE also are now using kinesio tape because we are trying to follow our drs protocol - but I am not completely convinced it is making a difference for us or not at this point in time - I guess it can't hurt - and it is really hard to isolate what is giving the results but we did get excellent improvement with TES and brace and stretching/massage even before I got on the ball with Taping - if you are have not tried TES I would really recomend it- I think it has made the most improvement we have seen in years-