Kinesio Tape for Foot Problems

Kinesio Tape for Foot Problems

You may have noticed some brightly colored tape splayed on athletes' bodies while watching a competitive athletic event. Although the stripes look cool and tribal, there is a medical reason behind them. They are special tapes called Kinesio tape that are applied to the athlete’s skin to help with healing, support, and performance.

Kinesio tape was invented by a Japanese chiropractor, Dr. Kenzo Kase, who, while treating his patients, wanted something that could offer support without the rigidity of traditional body tape. He combined cotton, nylon, and medical-grade adhesives to create Kinesio tape. Today, kinesiology tape is used to treat a wide range of issues.

In this post, we discuss three ways Kinesio tape can help with foot problems.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis or heel pain can benefit from Kinesio tape. Your foot specialist may recommend Kinesio tape for plantar fasciitis to support your heel as you undergo physical therapy and other treatments to ease the pain. When applied, the tape stabilizes the heel, helping in the rehabilitation process. When you use kinesiology tape for plantar fasciitis, the main benefits you get are:

Reduced pain

Pressure reduction on the heel and plantar fascia

Arch support

Muscle support around the affected area.

An added advantage of using Kinesio tape on your foot is that it will not restrict your range of motion. You can easily go about your duties without feeling like your foot is all tied up.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis is a common foot problem, especially with amateur and professional athletes. Kinesio tape can be successfully used to treat tendonitis, either as a standalone therapy or as part of a broader array of treatments. Kinesio tape can be used to treat posterior tibial tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis, or peroneal tendonitis.

During treatment, the podiatrist will apply the elastic tape to your foot as a support mechanism. Once applied, the foot will retain its natural range of motion, but the tape will reduce any unnatural movements. Kinesio tape for tendonitis can be useful as both a short-term and long-term treatment option.

Recovery after Surgery

After undergoing minimally invasive foot surgery, your podiatrist may recommend Kinesio tape for long-term healing. Once your foot has completed the initial healing process, Kinesio tape can be applied to help you get back to an active lifestyle.

If you had heel pain, for instance, Kinesio tape can be applied to help support your heel and foot arch during the healing process. Kinesio tape is also useful in helping relieve localized pain, making it useful during post-surgery physiotherapy.

Bottomline

World-class athletes use Kinesio Tape on recommendations by some of the top sports foot specialists in the world. Although more research is needed to understand better exactly how the tape works, such anecdotal evidence is quite compelling. Before buying Kinesio tape, we recommend speaking to your podiatrist first. Depending on the foot problem you are addressing, Kinesio tape may or may not be helpful. Your foot specialist will also advise you on how and where to apply it, how long to keep it on, and how to remove it safely.