Kinesiology Taping Certification Myra M Meekins PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Kinesiology Taping Certification

Myra M Meekins PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT myrameekins@gmail.com

1

History of Elastic Tape

• Been in practice for years
• Most poplar: Kinesio Tape
• Other well know tapes: Rock tape, KT tape, SpiderTech

2

Research on Taping

• Moderate evidence for taping as a reasonable treatment

for:

–Achilles Tendinopathy –Plantar fasciitis –Knee OA – Patello‐femoral pain syndrome (PFPS) –Buddy‐taping for fracture/dislocation

• Lack of good studies evaluating:

–Different types of tape –Neck, low back, and shoulder taping procedures

3

How it Works

• The weave of the fabric creates a biomechanical

lifting mechanism that lifts the skin away from the soft tissues underneath, which allows more blood to move into an injured area to accelerate healing and recovery

4

Types of Therapeutic Tape

• Athletic tape
• McConnell tape
• Kinesiotape

5

Benefits of Elastic Tape

• Easy to apply
• Water‐resistant
• Effective between visits
• Application can last 3‐5 days

6

What Can Tape Help?

• Pain reduction
• Inflammation
• Lymphatic and venous

flow

• Posture
• Muscle inhibition
• Muscle facilitation
• Range of Motion
• Strains
• Sprains
• Contusion

7

Taping Guidelines

• Tape is applied in a neutral position with no tension

at the beginning of the tape application

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Anchor Application

• Target tissue is placed in a stretch position after the

tape anchor is place, prior to applying tension

9

Taping Guidelines

• The ends of the tape is also applies with no tension
• *Start with slightly lower tension than indicated to

the skin for initial taping application*

10

Taping Guidelines

• Tape tension is defined as a percentage of available

tension from the tape’s resting length

–Paper off tension: 10‐15% –Insertion to origin: 15‐25% (light) –Origin to insertion: 15‐35% (moderate) –Tension greater than 50% (severe): primarily for corrective techniques

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Taping Guidelines ‐ Muscle Overuse

• Apply tape from Insertion (I) to Origin (O)
• 15‐25% tension of the available tension
• Will introduce an inhibition effect

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Taping Guidelines ‐Weak and/or Elongated Muscle

• Apply tape from Origin (O) to Insertion (I)
• 15‐35% tension of the available tension
• Will introduce a facilitation effect

13

Taping Guidelines ‐Recoil Effect

14

Taping Guidelines ‐ Unloading or Mechanical Corrections

15

Taping Guidelines

• Convolutions aid in normal blood and lymph

dynamics and tissue remodeling

16

Taping Guidelines

• Skin must be free of oils
• Adhesive becomes more adherent the longer the

tape is worn

• Allow at least 30 minutes prior to swimming
• Patient education

17

Taping Guidelines

• Activate tape by rubbing it until you feel warmth
• Do not rub against edges of tape
• Tape is applied to tissues that are elongated
• No tension is placed on the anchors
• Less is more

18

Taping Guidelines

• Too much tension with tape application can:

–Increase skin irritation –Produce shearing –Increase pain –Diminish effects –Introduce non‐therapeutic tension

19

Basic Strip Applications

• “I” strip
• “Y” strip
• “X” strip
• “Fan” strip

20 An I A Y An X And a Fan

Taping Precautions

• Pat dry after showering
• To minimize skin reactions a simple coating of milk of

magnesia

• Spray adhesive
• Trim the edges of the tape if it starts to curl or roll up
• ff the skin
• Keep tape application covered by clothes when

sleeping

21

Taping Guidelines

• Remove tape in direction of hair growth
• Pull skin back from tape
• Remove while bathing
• Soap oil, hand lotion may be used to break adhesive

22

Taping Guidelines

• Always perform a thorough evaluation
• Examine, Assess, and Reassess
• Taping is a great adjunct to treatment, but not a

substitute

23

Taping Precautions

• Fragile Skin
• Hx of Skin infections
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Congestive Heart

Disease

• Carotid artery disease
• Compromised skin
• Compromised sensation

24

Contraindications

• Over active malignancy sites
• Active cellulitis or skin infection
• Open wounds
• DVTs

25

Musculoskeletal Conditions

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Cervical Strain ‐ Paravertebrals

• “Y” strip
• Position: neutral spine
• Anchor: T3‐4 Spinous process level
• Stretch: c‐flexion and rot. to opp. side
• Tension: 15‐50%
• Tail(s): toward each side of the occiput

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Cervical Strain – Cont’d

• Flex neck again
• Apply “I” strip horizontal at the CT junction
• 75% tension
• * Optional strip

28

Cervical Strain – Levator Scapulae

• “I” Strip
• Position: neutral spine
• Anchor: medial border of scapula
• Stretch: c‐flex & rotate/lat flexion to opp. side
• Tension: 15‐25%
• Tail: C1 – C4 TPs

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Cervical Strain – Upper Trapezius

• “I” Strip(s)
• Anchor: acromion
• Stretch: lateral flexion to opp. side
• Tension: 15‐25%
• Tail: occiput

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Cervical Strain ‐ Scalenes

• “I” strip
• Anchor: 1st rib
• Stretch: cervical lat flex away/rotate toward same side
• Tension: 15‐25%
• Tail: TPs: C3‐6

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Postural Taping

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Evaluation and Treatment

• Differentiate articular and muscular dysfunction
• Cervical/CT junction/rib mobilizations
• Therapeutic stretches as needed
• Strengthen DNF
• Unload cervical spine

33

Shoulder Impingement

• “Y” strip
• Anchor: below greater tuberosity
• Stretch: c‐lateral flex away and shoulder ADD
• Tension: 15‐25%
• Tail(s): at and above the supraspinatus fossa

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Deltoid Inhibition

• “Y” strip
• Anchor: below deltoid tuberosity
• Stretch: shoulder horizontal ADD
• Tension: 15‐25%
• Tail(s): Ant. and post. Deltoid

35

GH Anterior Glide (Instability)

• “I” strip
• Shoulder in neutral position
• Anchor: Coracoid
• Position: GH medial rotation; apply post glide
• Tension: 75‐100%
• Tail(s): Posterior GH joint

36

Evaluation and Treatment

• GH mobilizations
• Assess scapulohumeral rhythm
• Strengthen scapulohumeral muscles
• Stretch short muscles
• CT junction mobilization

37

Epicondylitis

• “I” strip = 2
• Anchor/Tail: above and below condyle forming an “X”
• Stretch: elbow extension/wrist flexion or elbow

extension/wrist extension

• Tension: 80%

38

Wrist Extensors

• “Y” strip
• Stretch: wrist flexion with unlocked elbow
• Anchor radial styloid process
• Tension: 15‐25%
• Tail(s): near epicondyle

39

De Quervain’s

• “Y” strip
• Anchor: distal phalanx
• Stretch: ulnar dev./thumb flexion
• Tension: 15‐25%
• End: towards lateral epicondyle

40

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• “X” strip; “I” strip; (circulatory/lymphatic correction)
• Stretch: wrist and elbow extension
• Tension: 25‐35% at volar forearm
• Tail(s): antecubital fossa; thenar and hypothenar

eminence (no tension in tails)

• “I” strip: dorsal/volar aspect of wrist (10‐50%)

41

Finger Pain

• “I” strip(s)
• Anchor: Dorsal prox. wrist
• Stretch: finger flexion
• Tension: 15‐25%
• End: DIP joint
• *optional 2nd strip to anchor

42

Edema Taping

• “fan strip”
• Anchor: superior to injury site
• Tension: Paper off tension
• Tail: inferior to injury site

43

Evaluation and Treatment

• Differentiate source of symptoms – gripping vs.

repetitive wrist motion

• Soft tissue mobilization
• Neurodynamics
• Radiohumeral joint mobilizations
• Rest

44

Lumbar Strain

• “I” strip (2)
• Position neutral spine
• Anchor: below SI joint
• Stretch: forward flexion
• Tension: 15‐25% *
• Tail: T12

45

SIJ inflammation

• “I” strip: 1‐4
• Anchor: Center Stretch
• Stretch: forward flexion
• Tension: 25‐50%
• Region: SIJ

46

Evaluation and Treatment

• Assess lumbopelvic and hip relationship
• Assess hip strength and muscle recruitment
• Lumbar stabilization
• Sacral mobilization

47

Gluteus Medius

• “I” strip(s) #1
• Position: Side‐lying
• Anchor: post. lip of iliac crest, lateral to PSIS
• Stretch: hip ADDuction/Flexion
• Tension: 30‐50%
• Tail(s): end at greater trochanter

48

Gluteus Medius (cont’d)

• “I” strip(s) #2
• Position: side‐lying
• Anchor: lip of iliac crest
• Stretch: hip ADDuction/Extension
• Tension: 30‐50%
• Tail(s): distal to greater trochanter

49

IT Band

• “I” strip(s); “Y” strip(s) optional
• Position: Side‐lying, hip neutral, knee extended
• Anchor: lateral condyle of the tibia
• Stretch: Hip extension/adduction
• Tension: 50%
• Tail: above iliac crest

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Evaluation and Treatment

• Assess hip strength and muscle recruitment
• Tibial‐femoral mobilizations
• Thoracic and lumbosacral mobilizations
• Limit high impact activities

51

Patella Tendonitis – I strip

• “I” strip
• Anchor: 2‐3” below tibial tuberosity
• Tension: 15‐25%
• Stretch: knee flexion
• Tail(s): 3‐5” above superior pole of

patella

52

Patella Tendonitis – U strip

• “I” strip: 1/3 to 1/2 of the inferior pole of the patella
• Tension: 50‐75% while providing inferior pressure to

tilt the patella

• Stretch: knee flexion; add manual inferior pressure to

patella

• Tail(s): strip towards the vastus medialis and strip

toward the vastus lateralis

53

Knee Pain and Swelling

• “I” strip(s) – web technique
• Anchor: superior to quadriceps tendon
• Stretch: knee flexion
• Tension: 10‐20%
• Tail: distal patella tendon

54

Patella Lateral Tracking

• “I” strip
• Anchor: lower ½ of lateral patella
• Stretch: slight knee flexion
• Tension: 50‐75%
• Tail: lower ½ of medial patella

55

Shin Splints – 1st strip

• “I” strip
• Position: ankle dorsiflexion
• Anchor: distal to tibial tuberosity and distal foot –

metatarsals

• Tension: 50% creating a bridge
• Stretch: plantarflexion while holding proximal and

distal anchors

• Smooth tape into position

56

Shin Splints – 2nd strip (optional)

• “Y”
• Position: neutral
• Anchor: sup. or inf. to area of pain
• Stretch: dorsiflexion
• Tension: 50‐75%
• Tails: around distal leg in med. or lat

direction

57

Achilles Tendonitis

• “I” strip
• Position: prone
• Anchor: calcaneus
• Stretch: dorsiflexion
• Tension: 50‐75%
• Tail(s): above musculotendinous junction of

gastrocnemius (50‐75%)

• Optional second strip: “I” at posterior heel

horizontally

58

Gastrocnemius Inhibition

• “Y” strip
• Anchor: calcaneus
• Stretch: dorsiflexion
• Tail(s): Medial tail around the medial gastrocnemius

head and lateral tail around the lateral gastrocnemius head

• Tension: 15‐25%

59

Gastrocnemius and Achilles Taping

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Plantar Fasciitis

• “I”, “Y” or “Fan” strip
• Position: prone
• Anchor: calcaneus
• Stretch: dorsiflexion
• Tension: 75‐100%
• Tail: base of metatarsals

61

Over Pronation

• “I” strip(s)
• Position: prone
• Anchor: 5th metatarsal base
• Stretch: dorsiflexion
• Tension: 75%
• Tail: across arch medially to distal calf
• Y strip is optional

62

Ankle Strain/Stability

• 3 “I” strips
• Position: ankle dorsiflexion
• Anchor/Tail:

–Strip 1: from above the lateral malleolus to under the heel to the medial malleolus –Strip 2: horizontally from the navicular bone around the back

• f the heel then under arch towards the medial malleolus

–Strip 3: horizontally from base of 5th metatarsal around the back of the heel toward the navicular bone under the foot ending at lateral malleoli

• Tension: 75% ‐100%

63

Taping Charges

• Elastic taping under other CPT codes, e.g. 97110 (

therapeutic exercise), 97140 (manual therapy), or 97112 (neuromuscular re‐education).

• Documentation should clearly support the CPT code

you choose and show that the treatment was skilled and medically necessary based on the patient’s condition.

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Taping Charges

• Reporting elastic taping as a separate and distinct

service not used in conjunction with a therapy service: the appropriate code is 97799, unlisted therapy untimed

• Requires appropriate documentation and may not

guarantee payment

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Resources

• Blow D. Neuromuscular Taping: From Theory to
• Practice. Milan,Italy: Edi.ermes 2012
• Kase K, Wallis J, et al. Clinical Therapeutic Applications
• f the Kineso Taping Method. 3rd ed. Albquerque,

NM: Kinesio IP, LLC 2013

• Continuing Education Courses
• Summit Education Courses
• YouTube

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Summary Checklist

• Do you know the

benefits of using tape?

• Can you explain how

tape works?

• Do you know taping

precautions and contraindications?

• Can you demonstrate

correct application?

• Do you know how to

tape to unload vs. mechanically correct vs. pain relief vs. muscle facilitation?

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