We've all seen the brightly colored tape that adorns professional athletes and have wondered what it is and what it does. It's called Kinesio Tape and has been around since the 1980s, but it has been  gaining popularity in the professional sporting world over the last few years. Athletes wear it to ease strained muscles, improve contractibility of the muscle, and improve overall performance. However, Kinesio Tape isn't just for the athlete and is highly successful in treating everyday complaints such as shoulder pain, knee pain, back pain, and much more. The possibilities are endless because of the theory behind why Kinesio Tape works.

Decompress the area of swelling and inflammation:

When the tape is applied it lifts up the skin and its many layers. By doing so, it allows compressed blood vessels to flow more freely. This creates greater blood flow to and from the area and also allows fluid from inflammation be removed more quickly.

Supports the muscle:

The application of the tape improves the muscle's ability to contract even when it's weak or fatigued. The tape protects the overactive muscles from cramping and influences the dormant muscles to help support. This allows the body to more efficiently coordinate movement and help properly.

Allows movement:

The tape is designed in a way that it provides a full range of motion while wearing it. Unlike other athletic tapes, its job is to support your everyday movement, not restrict it.

i spa's resident chiropractor, Dr. Hicks, is a level 1 and 2 certified RockTape provider. While there are many brands of Kinesio Tape on the market today Dr. Hicks has found the best results using RockTape. Once properly applied, the tape can stay on for about 5 days. It is water resistant so you wear it while showering or swimming. If you are interested in trying Kinesio Tape, call today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hicks and she will be more than happy to discuss taping with you.