Kinesio taping (adhesive neuromuscular bandage), known to most as kinesio or “colored bandage,” is an elastic bandage made of colored cotton that is used in therapeutic, preventive and rehabilitative settings. It was therefore initially used primarily for sports injuries , but over the years and because of its proven efficacy, the use of kinesio has been extended to an increasingly wide range of treatments, including physio-aesthetic treatments. Kinesio taping is therefore used as a support for the treatment of tendinitis, cervical arthritis, small edema and subcutaneous hematomas, but also, as anticipated, to reduce pain from muscle tension or contractures.
Although kinesio taping may appear to be an easy art it is actually a very complex application that requires experience and mastery.
The application of kinesio taping may cause itching or irritation, slight numbness, swelling, and minor blood circulation disturbances as side effects. Because it is made of pure cotton, the risk of kinesio causing allergy is very low. Do-it-yourself application is highly discouraged because proper application of the patch involves following precise anatomical structures. If kinesio is not affixed properly then, instead of relieving pain, it could lead to the creation of abnormal muscle tension that would, in turn, cause further pain.
