Therapeutic tape was originally developed during the 1970’s by a Japanese Chiropractor Dr. Kenzo Kase who was looking for a way to maintain patient progress in-between therapy sessions. Having success using this therapeutic taping technique he later went on to develop the first Kinesio tapping method. kinesio tape was introduced to America during the 1990’s and has since seen a vast increase in popularity following its use during the Olympic games and by many professional athletes.

Therapeutic tape is composed of a latex free material with an acrylic adhesive, which is heat ctivated. Due to the tape’s fiber structure and arrangement it has a high potential to stretch, up to 140% of its original length, depending on the type and brand of the tape. This stretch can be manipulated by your therapist in terms of direction of pull, shape, and location to improve the intended effects. The purpose of the stretch is to allow for a pulling force on the skin after its application that can have a variety of benefits such as improvement in circulation, and stimulation of mechanoreceptors and proprioceptors. This stretching ability of the tape is one of the primary differentiating factors when comparing it to traditional athletic tape that has less ROM and can only be left on for a limited period of time due to its limited ability to stretch.

Mechanical corrections Our therapists are trained in taping techniques to address the following