Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

A couple days ago I received a couple new stretching and rehab product that I intend to use in my soon-to-be-opened training facility. It’s not any kind of heavy hitter strength and power development tool but it is something that will likely come in handy for some of the athletes I train. I work with quite a few multi-eventers as well as the occasional javelin thrower, pole vaulter and baseball p
 
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Another alternative or alternative to this device, would be kinesio tape.  A Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner can do this and make modifications that may be specific to the athlete themselves as we all have our own uniqueness to an extent in anatomy (from what I have observed from many cadavers).  Plus the intent and the way the kinesio tape is put on the athlete will either inhibit or facilitate certain muscles if there is an imbalance.  Further, one could progress kinesio taping methods in inhibition and facilitation and limit or create movement that is desired at a specific time in training.  Also the kinesio tape will have therapeutic benefits in addition to the support/inhibition/facilitation (whatever the coach/practitioner decides is best or the athlete decides which is best depending on situation).  It would also be better I think to use kineiso tape because it would enhance kinesthetic awarenss and allow the shoulder to correct/prevent injury biomechanically and it will also create space to allow more blood flow, circulation, synovial fluid (shoulder joint), and lymph flow.  Kinesio Tape is amazing.

Just some thoughts as I am about to take my last class in Kinesio Taping Method in sports medicine and become a CKTP myself.

I don’t think the application is really the same.

I don’t claim to be a kinesiotape expert but in the exposure that I have had it’s never been used to strengthen or stretch a joint. Those are the primary functions of the rotater.

I’ve seen limited effectiveness with kinesiotaping but I’m sure that as with most things this may be due to the practitioner (who was a very good therapist but I don’t know about taping skills). Any research to back up all of the claims?

The only things I’ve found are limited (in scope) and mixed in findings. Some of the claims make sense to me but some of them I’m a little skeptical of…namely- ‘increased blood flow, circulation, synovial fluid, and lymph flow.’ This would take some pretty serious research methods to determine these and I’m not aware of any research to support the claims. As a skeptic (who does see value in it) some of the claims sound far-reaching…kinda like the chiropractors who say they can make deaf people hear.

Going along with that, I saw a video on youtube of a chiropractor who restored a blind lady’s sight.

More randomness…for shoulder info, there is a guy called Dale Buchberger who is supposed to have great shoulder routines/info.  He is both a physical therapist and chiro.

I was partially joking. Apparently you were not…

The funniest thing is that is not even the same healing-the-blind video I was talking about.  It’s an epidemic of curing blindness.

Yes I can understand the critics, as I am a critic myself.  I like things evidenced based as well.  The research that is done on kinesio taping is found at http://www.kinesiotaping.com/physiological-effects.php

They have dumbed it down so more of a general population could read it and understand a little more than what was posted on there.  Also if you scroll to the bottom of the page you’ll find research studies, testimonials, new, faq, etc.  This can be found at http://www.kinesiotaping.com/research-studies.php

I am not trying to say that it is a cure all or whatever… I’m just saying it makes a nice adjunct to therapy and is a good alternative.

The practitioner does have a big to do with this.  That’s why it would be good to also go to kinesiotaping.com to find a practitioner who is certified, so you don’t have to worry about a therapist/practitioner who may not have any real training in this method.  Proper training is needed for kinesio taping to be effective.  (or as with anything really)

Or you could call Head Athletic Trainer James Wallis at Portland State University as he is one of the original people who helped introduce this method properly internationally and nationally in USA, and has worked alongside Dr. Kenzo Kase himself,  and is the one teaching the classes I took for the kinesio taping method here in Portland.  Actually he is one of the authors who wrote the book Clinical Therapeutic Applications of the Kinesio Taping Method.

That doesn’t surprise me that you haven’t encountered the real Kinesio Taping Method that can aid in facilitate or inhibit muscles as well as fascia correction, space correction, ligament/tendon corection, functional correction, mechanical correction, and lymphatic correction.  This is a real niche right now, and is fairly new to the U.S.  And due to this there are a lot of practitioners who don’t know how to properly apply this method.

Does it seem strange at all to you that the references are from the commercial entity itself? Or that more than half the studies had Kase himself as an author, were presented at a conference clearly sponsored by Kinesiotaping, or were not peer-reviewed? The one peer-reviewed study provided mixed results:

KT may be of some assistance to clinicians in improving pain-free active ROM immediately after tape application for patients with shoulder pain. Utilization of KT for decreasing pain intensity or disability for young patients with suspected shoulder tendonitis/impingement is not supported.

Also, I can understand the use of fascia correction and possibly even some limited tendon / ligament correction but it’s the significant lymphatic and blood flow changes that I am doubting.

Also, back to my original question…how would it substitute for a rotater for stretching and strengthening the shoulder? If the rotater, or any other mobility and strengthening routine works as expected (I have no idea whether it does or not) couldn’t it potentially alleviate the need for ever using kinesiotaping?

Believe me, I know kinesiotaping can work but I’m doubtful over some of the more far reaching claims. I looked on the site and the person who was treating some of the athletes I was working with is currently CKTP certified. I do not know if he was 6 years ago when he treated the athletes.

I think it is good that it comes from the commercial entity itself, because that is the Dr. who introduced it to the U.S. and I think he is a perfect candidate to do research on it.  This is so new to the U.S. and who is going to do research on kinesio taping unless you love it like Dr. Kenzo does?  What researcher is going to spend time on that, when there is probably not much money (return) for it?  I think it is the best out there right now, it will just take time like everything else to build and conduct research on kinesio taping methods/applications.

Most of the support does come from subjective data and case scenarios from practitioners, doctors, therapists, etc. 

I have had such success with this method it is great because it helps people when I tape them at least from my experience thus far.  People that I see are going to there primary care or physical therapist just to get diagnosis and check up and that is it…. Then come to me saying literally in one treatment that I relieved most if not all there pain and they can move and exercise again and that they wish they wouldn’t have waisted so much time and money seeing their physical therapist, doctor(s), etc.  I have helped people with sciatica, shoulder impingement, patellar tracking, S1-S2 lock up, plantar fascitis so far with kinesio tape.  And after I apply my strips to elect certain physiologic responses based off my clinical knowledge while still in school for clinical massage therapy (lymphatic technique or space technique, inhibition/faciliation) I have had 100% of the people say immediately that there pain is gone after taping application.  Edema in certain regions especially with the S1-S2 lock up people, the lymphatic technique reduces their swelling so fast.  Of course I do also include a movement analysis and then make a corrective exercise program for their needs and the kinesio tape is just an adjunct.  People love it because they can move and biomechanically correct themselves by moving. 
And usually after weeks or so after the corrective exercise program is done and the taping has become minimal I then offer my training services further or they just go enjoy their activities that they couldn’t do before, but now can do. 
This is just my experience and it works for people and it helps people.  That is what matters to me most (regardless of perfect reearch studies and evidence) is to help people.  If it doesn’t help them (haven’t had this problem) then I’ll just refer out, learn from it, and move on.

Again this is just my experience, and once I become licensed as a massage therapist then the kinesio tape will be a perfect adjunct with my movement analysis and corrective exercise programs (work alongside Dr. or therapist that can diagnose and oversee treatment) to help people back in motion and living life to its fullest, enjoyment.  The kinesio tape will be like leaving my hands on the patient when they leave.

To address your question about the shoulder strength/stretching… it wouldn’t be a substitute for a strength program it would be an adjunct to it.  When you tape someone with full stretched ROM when taping people and then the tape comes back, it supposidly creates more interstitial space, thus allowing improved blood flow and lymph.  I believe this to be true as I am a bodyworker (soon to be licnesed .).  Based of my experience and knowledge with working with people with soft tissue dysfunction and injuries in massage, I just know that the kinesio tape is going to help… If it doesn’t then oh well, because it is just an adjunct.  Bodies talk and I will listen as a responsible future therapist. 

Hope this is helpful.

I really find a HUGE conflict of interest when a commercial entity is conducting research on their own product without peer-review. It’s bogus when nutritional companies do it and advertise about it, bogus when government agencies conduct their own internal reviews without 3rd party oversight, bogus when the NFL polices their own steroid policies, and in my opinion very suspicious what the kinesiotape group is doing as well. Given the costs of the tape and certifications there’s a lot of money at stake if there claims are proven false. Also, it’s at least been in the U.S market for 7 years so to have such limited supporting research (there’s an acceptable amount of research for that short period of time but the results of which are very mixed) with such bold claims seems strange.

Having said all that, your post was interesting and I appreciate the insight.