Improving Posture with Kinesio Taping
Wondering if Kinesio Tape for Posture Improvement is Right For You?
Kinesio Tape is widely known for its use in helping athletes who perform at a high level recover from injuries. But, over the last few years, its use has expanded into physical therapy clinics as another tool to help patients improve their overall musculoskeletal health. In fact, the strategic use of Kinesio taping for posture is growing in popularity as a non-invasive and effective rehabilitative tool.
Keep reading to learn more about using Kinesio Tape for more than injury recovery.
How Professionals Use Kinesio Taping for Posture
Kinesio Tape is a therapeutic tool that involves applying a special elastic tape to the skin. The tape is designed to support and stabilize muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion. Correct application of the tape can help to gently guide muscles and joints into alignment for a therapeutic treatment for a variety of conditions.
When it comes to posture, our clinic focuses on postural awareness instead of “good” or “bad” posture. Postural awareness involves being mindful of how we hold our spine, whether we’re stationary or moving. Kinesio Taping for posture is a great way to ensure we can find and maintain awareness of our position no matter what we’re doing or what our fitness level is.
It’s Designed to Help You Improve Your Posture
- Proprioceptive Feedback: Taping can help enhance proprioception, which is the sense of how we’re holding the positions of our body when we move. This awareness can encourage or remind users to adjust their posture at regular intervals.
- Muscle Support: The tape can provide support to muscles by optimizing their activation by reducing the activity of overactive muscles and stimulating underactive muscles to work more. This can help to counteract tendencies to slump or adopt other poor postural habits.
- Pain Relief: Poor postural awareness sometimes leads to neck and back pain. Kinesio tape is designed to gently lift the skin to reduce pressure on underlying tissues to help alleviate pain. This can make it easier to find your proper posture.
Applying The Tape For Maximum Postural Effect
- Neck: Kinesio Tape can be used to help support the neck by encouraging proper positioning of the cervical spine. This is useful for individuals who work at computers and tend to lean forward for long periods of time.
- Upper Back: For those with a tendency to round their shoulders or hunch forward, the tape can be applied in a pattern that encourages proper positioning of the shoulder blades. The effect can promote a more open and upright posture.
- Lower Back: Taping can also help support the lower back by encouraging the lumbar spine to maintain its natural curve. This is particularly beneficial for individuals who spend long periods of time sitting down.
Considerations For Those New To Kinesio Taping for Posture
- Skin Sensitivity: The tape is designed to mimic the natural elasticity of human skin. The adhesive is made from hypoallergenic acrylic, but some patients develop a sensitivity to the tape.
- Temporary Solution: Kinesio Taping for posture improvement is not designed to be a stand-alone treatment. It is used in conjunction with a comprehensive physical therapy program as a tool to aid in improving overall musculoskeletal health.
Physical Therapy with Mana Physical Therapy
Our physical therapists are specially trained in the use and application of Kinesio Tape. If you’re curious about including this non-invasive method for improving posture, give us a call. We’ll conduct a thorough examination of your medical history and current condition and discuss how this technique can fit into your overall physical therapy goals.
Give us a call today!