Beyond the Adjustment: Kinesiology Tape

Within our office, we often have many patients experience amazing results. Improved range of motion to the affected area, decreased pain and other symptoms, and an overall improved sense of wellness and wellbeing are just some of them. Unfortunately, not all of these results stick around for long periods of time. Many times, pain, motion restriction, and other symptoms can return after a day or a few. When this happens, patients often feel frustrated after feeling better for a short-lived period of time. If their frustration lingers, they may even decide that chiropractic is not the answer for their discomfort and not return to the office.

In this scenario, it is not the fault of the patient for feeling frustrated after experiencing short-lived results, but it is not the fault of the adjustment either. The chiropractic adjustment served its purpose. It restored motion where motion was restricted, improved nerve signal transmission, relieved pain or discomfort, and maybe other symptoms if present. When symptoms return so quickly after care, it is a clear indication that more needs to be done to help the patient outside of the chiropractic adjustment. Most commonly, stretching and strengthening exercises are prescribed by the chiropractor, but this might not enough for certain areas of the body. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, shoulder blades, elbows, knees, and foot all require stabilization after times of mobilization and adjustments because these areas need stability, not excessive mobility.

When these areas are considered too mobile by the body, the brain will signal for the muscles to create stability around these joints by becoming hypertonic, which feels like muscle tightness and stiffness to patients. The hypertonic muscles are meant to prevent movement and keep a joint stable, but patients often use stretching to loosen up when they start feeling their muscles tighten. This can lead to irritation of the muscles and can even increase symptoms of stiffness and discomfort. This is where it is important for chiropractic physicians to look and think beyond the chiropractic adjustment as a means for helping their patients.

Kinesiology tape or K-Tape for short is a great way for chiropractors to provide stability to these areas after an adjustment while allowing the surrounding musculature to relax. The tape provides the stability and signals the brain, preventing the brain from signaling the need for hypertonic muscles to protect the joints. Taping for posture and support after an adjustment will allow the muscles to stay relaxed, improving the positive outcomes of an adjustment for longer. It may just be the key the patient needed to take short term results and turn them into a lifetime of wellness.

K-tape has a number of benefits outside of stabilizing joints as well. Take some time to make an appointment in our office to learn the numerous benefits k-tape came provide along with chiropractic care.