You have probably seen kinesio tape before and wondered in passing what it was about. It’s common to see beach volleyball players and basketball players sporting brightly colored tape on shoulders and knees.  In that case, the tape is being used to support muscles, alignment and strength or to heal and prevent injury when the athlete moves.  But it’s not just for high-performance athletes – it might even be for you.

Kinesio taping (sometimes spelled kinesiotape or kinesio-tape) can reduce swelling.  Because it is elastic, the tape moves with you and can be left on for days at a time – unlike traditional strapping tape, which constricts blood flow. It also encourages lymph function and can be used as an adjunct to your Lymphworks therapy.

Kinesio tape is latex free, flexible, long lasting, and comes in many colors. Brands like RockTap are often used to support injured muscles or to prevent further injury to an area.  After application, it may remain on the skin for 3 to 5 days. Additionally, tape promotes circulation to an inflamed area. It lifts the skin just enough to create a negative pressure area in the tissues just under the skin. The blood and lymph vessels then dilate and collected lymph fluid or pooled blood, which can then drain away and reduce the swelling. Fresh blood flows in, oxygenating the tissues and promoting healing.

The lymph system’s job is to keep the body’s fluids in balance and evacuate toxins, proteins, and excess fluid from the extra-cellular spaces. In addition to trash collection, the lymph system transports hormones and immune cells throughout the body. The tape’s slight tug on the skin stimulates lymph vessels to open the valves and collect more fluid.