It’s often seen at local and international sports events that players and athletes wear various kinds of tapes. These tapes are not for decoration, they are the secrets of athletes to keep muscles in condition. Dr. Kenzo Kase, the founder of Kinesio taping, was invited to Taiwan for seminar, which attracted many physical therapists and athletic trainers to attend.

Kinesio Taping Method uses a non-medicated elastic tape to reduce muscle cramp and release discomfort which was invented by Dr. Kenzo Kase in 1980.

In an interview, Dr. Kase noted that his method is widely prevalent in sports fields, medical fields and even in the beauty care industry in Japan, Europe and America. So far at least 500,000 people have been treated by Kinesio Taping Method, not only athletes and sports fans but also orthopedic, rehab and neurological patients.

The president of Taiwan Applied Rehabilitation Association, Zhi-Ming Chen, said Kinesio Taping is based on anatomy and biomechanics. The elastic tape strips can influence skin and fascia to reduce edema, release pain and even relieve sports stresses. Taiwan’s Ya-Ni Tseng, and Rendy Lu Yen-hsun have even used it.

AAPM&R assists physicians in acquiring the continuing education, practice knowledge, leadership skills, and research findings needed to provide quality patient care, and to represent the best interests of patients with, or at risk for, temporary or permanent disabilities. The academy serves its member physicians by advancing the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation, promoting excellence in physiatric practice, and advocating on public policy issues related to persons with disabling conditions.

Collaboration with PM&R physicians provides a valuable outreach opportunity for KTAI to educate MDs. “The doctors that I educated on Kinesio Taping were extremely interested in the presentation that was done and also interested in learning more,” reported CKTI Scott Hainz, who was associated with two of the presentations. The hands-on workshop, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Taping Techniques for the Upper and Lower Extremities, included case studies, examples of taping procedures, and taping practice for the attendees.

More than 30 members attended each of his presentations on Friday and Saturday. Scott works closely with Dr. Anthony J. Margherita in St. Louis. “He is very active in PM&R,” Scott added. “We did a joint talk with labs on McConnell taping, low-dye taping, and Kinesio taping.” They shared how different methods could be used to treat the same conditions. “We demonstrated scapular positioning, instability in the shoulder, patellar taping, achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis.”

Also offered at the assembly was a workshop on Kinesio Taping® for the Shoulder, Elbow, and Wrist, taught by two Massachusetts CKTPs. This presentation was also popular with attendees.

Scott noted, “I had many inquiries about Kinesio Taping, more so than the other two techniques.  Some [attendees] were familiar with Kinesio due to the Olympics.” He was able to meet with one of the directors involved in planning the annual meetings and they were enthusiastic about offering Kinesio Taping in their program.  In fact, says Scott, “Dr. Margherita and I have tentatively arranged for three hours of lecture and lab time for next year’s presentation in Atlanta.” In the meantime, he has been approached by several attendees to arrange for Kinesio education for themselves.

Kinesio Mexico has also been actively pursuing collaboration with physicians. Instructors Peter Lang and Raúl Díaz González Santibáñez are both MDs themselves, and have been reaching out to colleagues in orthopedics and rehabilitation. Dr. Lang had 16 physicians, including both physiatrists and orthopedic surgeons, in a recent KT1 in Mexico. He has received encouraging reports from the surgeons on their use of Kinesio Taping.

Health care professionals will have the opportunity to attend KT1 & KT2 seminars this coming December 3rd and 4th at the Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital. Accessible to the greater Detroit and Dearborn metro area, the facility serves the “downriver” region and surrounding communities of southeast Michigan. Established in 1926, the hospital’s mission is to improve human health through excellence in the science and art of health care healing.

Stacey Lonser, PTA, CKTI, will be the instructor for the Wyandotte seminar. Check it out!

Monique reports:

We set up on Friday and [race organizer] Mario was very friendly and helped put our banners up and gave us everything we needed. We gave him three banners that were put up on the race course. The expo said that it started at 9am but when I got there at 8 there were already some people there picking up their race packs.  There weren’t a ton of people but there were enough to keep us busy. Many people had no idea what Kinesio was and I had a bunch of people picking up the pre-cut package and saying “So what is this stuff?” When we explained what it was and taped them, people seemed excited about it and said that they would try it when they were going to train to see if it helped. A lot of people who stopped by were asking how much the pre-cuts were thinking that we were selling them and were happy to find out that they were free samples.

            Having the pre-cuts made me feel more comfortable showing people the taping. I felt pretty good because I taped about 10 people. I was a little nervous the first time someone asked if I could tape them but I followed the instructions and they said that they felt a difference and they really liked it. I even taped someone’s foot! That was a big step for me because touching people I don’t know especially feet grosses me out, but this lady was so nice and had such a good story that I wanted to help her. She was 45 years old and had beaten breast cancer after having a half mastectomy. She had never been a runner but said that after she beat the cancer she wanted to do something and started running. Six months ago she was over 200 pounds and now she had lost 40 pounds and was running a full marathon. She told me that her foot was really bothering her and wanted me to tape her. After she kept thanking me and gave me a big hug.

            Overall I think it was good that we were there and hopefully our presence there will have made more runners aware and we can continue to boost sales locally.

ach and is loved by all. He inspires all of us, including me, to keep on keeping on. I was glad to see that Kinesio Taping to his joints have helped him with his mobility. His adoptive parents have been taping his joints to allow him painless if not painfree mobility. Katie shared his story:

Ritz is a three-year-old, 95-lb. Rhodesian Ridgeback with a noticeably short ridge. He was one of 10 puppies born to two champions at a kennel in Altoona, Florida June 26, 2008. We selected him especially because of his big ears and feet which he eventually grew into. Ritz has always been cared for with the best of everything and never kept from experiencing anything we could with him. It’s not often he is left at home with his “older brother” Calvin, an 8-year old seal point Balinese cat. He has always been fed holistic kibble or homemade meals on occasion, vitamins, and treats. Quite the life!

From day one this Ridgeback has spent as much time riding around in a car on everything from family vacations to simple errands as he has in the house. His social skills are unparalleled on these outings and can be attributed to his happy-go-lucking demeanor. Ritz very rarely meets anyone he can’t charm, and that includes other dogs. Playing is his main goal in life. So there was no other choice but to throw him a first birthday party complete with homemade dog cakes, treats, goodie bags, and an embarrassingly large display of decorations. Party invitations were sent to family and friends who attended with their dogs, 12 in all. It was a hit to put it mildly.

In the summer of 2010 we were told that a growth on one of his front ankles was a common bone disease, Panosteitis. Panosteitis has no known cause and can cause pain in limbs of large, young dogs that grow quickly. Unfortunately, prescribed steroids and pain medications did not seem to relieve him of the discomfort and after several months and many veterinary appointments we were directed to a specialist by a young veterinarian that felt all possible treatments had been exhausted. The first trip to a specialist in Cooper City resulted in an overnight stay for a bone biopsy. The test was inconclusive and a second visit with follow up x-rays revealed the only cause could be, regretfully bone cancer. In an attempt to give our pup a chance at living out the rest of his life we opted to remove his entire front left limb.

Although we have been told too many times that others would have just put him down, for us the decision was easy. On October 21, 2010, Ritz became a “tripod,” and it hasn’t phased him a moment since. We were forewarned that he might not live more than 3-6 months after the surgery and that the cancer would inevitably spread to his lungs. The doctors recommended chemotherapy which we chose not to put him through. Two weeks after surgery Ritz was running at the dog park and playing like his old self.

In February of 2011, the cancer “flared-up” and x-rays showed that the cancer was in his lungs. Once again he was treated with anti-inflammatory and pain medication and was only expected to live another few weeks at the most. Well it is just under one year since his surgery and he is still living the same full life. In recent weeks Ritz has been experiencing more pain in his limbs and is having trouble sitting, but is still active enough to play with us, go on walks, and enjoy his beloved car rides.

Last weekend, our physical trainer at our local Crossfit gym, Joe Justado, suggested that we use Kinesio tape to relieve some of his joint pain.  We taped him up and decided to take him for a walk to see how he was feeling.  He was tearing around like he was high on life – it was obvious to us that the taping had relieved some of the pain that he was feeling just moments before.

Photo guide: I used Skin Prep to prepare Ritz’s fur before taping although I feel that regular hairspray would have worked better. I used a 4 inch Kinesio Tex Y-tape ( blue) for the joint application and an I-strip (pink) to secure the tape job around the joints. Approximately 40% stretch was applied to theY-tape proximally behind the joint and the malleoli. Additional taping (glove style) would be appropriate for the carpus and the toes for support of the carpal bones and phalanges (not illustrated). The entire tape job could use a stocking for concealment as ALL of our  furry four legged friends love to lick all foreign objects on their hides.

October has been renamed “Hopetober” for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Miami Seaquarium will go pink for the month as it welcomes its guests with the opportunity to make a $5 contribution to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and save 50 percent on general admission. The park also will encourage its visitors to get involved in other ways by transforming several park locations with the iconic pink color. The offer starts September 26 and runs until October 31. To participate in Hopetober, click here for a donation form.

Daily rates at the Miami Seaquarium are $38.95 for general admission and $28.95 for children ages 3 to 9. Florida sales tax is additional, and parking is $8. You can save $2 on each admission if you purchase tickets online.

Consider bringing the family: Seminar weekend also coincides with the Monster Splash Nighttime Bash. From October 28th to 31^st, from 5-10pm, the Seaquarium will host a big, kid-friendly Halloween extravaganza. This year’s event promises more ghoulish treats and ghostly fun than ever before. Attractions include:

• All New* Sharky’s Sweet Tooth Stations

• Kiddie rides and bounce houses at the Little Monsters Play Area

• Monsters in the Mangrove Haunted Walk

• Flipper’s Dance Party

• Halloween themed marine animal shows

The Monster Splash Nighttime Bash is a separate ticket from the park’s daytime admission, and runs $24.95 for adults and $19.95 for children.

I was selected as team physiotherapist for Jamaica’s track and field team that participated in the 13th IAAF World Championships between August 27 and September 4 in Daegu, South Korea.  There, several of our athletes benefitted from my interventions using the Kinesio Taping Method to optimize muscle function, relax overworked muscles, relieve pain and swelling and  to support joints.

 Most of our senior athletes have been exposed to Kinesio Taping and were delighted to have their very own Jamaican CKTP to help them. Bridgette Foster-Hylton, 100m hurdler,  who has been wearing Kinesio Tex Tape on and off since the Beijing Olympics was excited that I was practising; she is well aware of the benefits of Kinesio Taping from her own experience.

 I am happy to report that once again, Jamaican athletes stamped their mark as being the sprint kings and queens of the world; dominating in all sprint events for both male and female. Jamaica broke the world record in the mens 4x100m relay in a winning time of 37.04s accomplished by a team comprising of Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Nesta Carter and Michael Fraser. Jamaica’s total medal haul was 9 medals, 4 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze. 

Pier-Ann Patterson-Brown, BSc PT., Registered PT – Practising since 1991; Post Grad Certificate in Geriatric Care Mgt. -2007; CKTP – 2010  (CKTI candidate, Oct. 2011)

Private practice: Therapeutic Touch, Clarendon, Jamaica

Hospital: Acting head of dept. – Mandeville Regional Hospital, Manchester, Jamaica

Pier-Ann has been Team Physiotherapist on several occasions for Jamaica’s junior and senior athletics teams to the CARIFTA Games, CAC Games, World Jr Championships and has served as team PT for the Cayman Islands athletic teams to the 2007 Pan Am Games and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Trained in Kinesio Taping, Myofascial Release (John Barnes) and Sports Massage.

A fabulous educating opportunity happened at the 5th Annual Multi-Culture Health Fair Festival held by the Hispanic Community Organization For Life, Inc in New York City on July 23, 2011. Health Fair goers were exposed to and had the opportunity to experience Kinesio Taping up close and personal. Post-car accident, untreated shoulder injury, general back stiffness (erector spinae hypertension), cervical disorders and foot (fascial) pain following bilateral ankle surgeries were amongst the conditions that were treated.

The participants were as pleased to receive consults, advice and taping as I as the practitioner was to educate individuals on and apply tape to their pain patterns, various treatments and, of course Kinesio Tape. We found the high level of NYC humidity challenging in the adherence and maintenance of the taping. It was explained to individuals that normally the tape would be applied in a controlled environment where the skin would not normally be subject to such weather conditions. Participants were also reassured that the time that the tape remained on would be beneficial. A great experience!

The following week Dr. Guerrero was out there again:

I had the pleasure of representing Kinesio Tex Tape at the Freestyle Old-timers Health Fair on July 30, 2011. Their Charity sponsor was the American Cancer Society.

In addition to handing out pamphlets on the benefits of physical fitness and Yoga for patients with cancer and in remission the  general populous — both children and adults alike — were introduced to Kinesio Tex Taping. My favorite case that day was a woman in her mid-thirties who came to the Healthy Healing tent with “no pain” following a Zumba class. Following stretching and Kinesio taping she stated she “felt better,” bilaterally. She had notable, palpable edema over the anterior aspect of her knee which was a precursor for knee pain or buckling from the inhibition of the quadricep’s normal contraction and/or the natural gliding of her patella in its groove. Though she was not in pain (yet) we were able to tape her preventatively and provide relief for someone who did not even know they were under pressure.

Kinesio Tape has proven not just to be advantageous after but before tissue breakdown!

We appreciate Hadiya Guerrero’s efforts, and so must the many people she helps to feel, move and live better.

New Rochelle is in Westchester County, part of the New York City metro area. In the classic Dick Van Dyke television show, writer Rob Petrie and his wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) lived in New Rochelle. In those days it was a symbol of peaceful suburban life, but in fact it is a small city of more than 70,000 residents. Chances are that New Rochelle could hold its own in amenities and services even without its proximity to the Big Apple, but it doesn’t hurt.

Andrea Wolkenberg, PT, MA, CKTI, will be the instructor for New Rochelle.

Odessa is in the Llano Estacado region of sunny west Texas, where rain is never taken for granted and municipal water use is a recurring issue. Whoever coined the phrase “wide open spaces” may have been looking at Odessa. The original book and movie “Friday Night Lights” were set in Odessa, Texas. It is not true that the town has more cattle than people – that would have to be Amarillo – but at about 90,000, population concentration is not a big selling point.

The instructor for Odessa will be Pam Samaniego, PT, CKTI.

The weekend of October 1^st and 2^nd will be a busy one for Kinesio Taping. Odessa and New Rochelle join sites as far flung as Washington, DC; Parsippany, NJ; and Red Deer, Alberta, in offering KT1 and KT2 training. There is even a KT3 in Knoxville and a KT3 expanded session in Traverse City, Michigan. Go to the seminar calendar or click on the links to see how to register.

It was the World Championships in Champéry Switzerland and we had a very successful weekend.

Most of the KT work I was doing last week was for the ladies. Emily Batty was suffering some right shoulder pain, I taped her up and she instantly noticed zero discomfort. On top of which all 5 athletes were receiving daily lymphatic tape. Heather Irmiger was having some lateral tension in both quads and I did both an ITB taping as well as fascia taping and she really enjoyed the work.

As for the racing, well that was a very good weekend indeed. In the women’s field, Emily Batty finished 8th over all, which is very encouraging as it is her first year as an elite women’s rider. Heather Irmiger finished 11th which was also an amazing race for her as she was near last place after the start lap.

For the men, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski had his best World’s race ever, finishing 12th and unfortunately for Sam Schultz it was not his day, finishing in 35th.

 We look forward to hearing from Troy when he starts gearing up next season!