09/07/2021
What Kinesio Tape Is Used For
Shin Splints: This kind of pain happens when you overload the muscles in the front of your shin, causing inflammation in the muscle, tendon, and bone. Tape from just below the outside of your knee to just beneath the base of your big toe, then tape additional strips the length of the full width of your shin laterally over your pain points.
Knee Pain: One of the most common issues for runners, knee pain typically stems from imbalances or weak glutes. Anchor two strips on the quad muscle and then run them down the right and left of the knee cap to create a teardrop shape, Wickham says. Then place one strip running across the other two below the knee cap.
Plantar Fasciitis: This occurs when you overload the connective tissue that runs from your heel to the base of your toes, resulting in heel pain. Tape on strip down the bottom of the foot, the another strip crossing the first on the arch area of the bottom of the foot, Wickham says.
Achilles Tendon Pain: Too much stress can tighten and overwork the large tendon connecting the two major calf muscles—the gastrocnemius and soleus—to the back of the heel bone. Tape one strip starting at the mid-calf down to the bottom of the foot, then cross another strip over the back of the heel/ankle, Wickham says.
General Muscle Pain: If you’re experiencing general soreness or want more support for a muscle, you can use two strips (or cut one strip into a “Y” shape) to border the area, Lou says.
Swelling: If you rolled or tweaked a joint, and it is inflamed, cut small projections off the anchor point of the tape (so it looks like an octopus) and lay it with no stretch over the swollen area,” Lou says.
