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Rocktape and Chiropractic

During the spring time you may start to see people wearing various kinds of kinesiotape. Rocktape is the kinesiotape of choice in our chiropractic office and is something we use to help stabilize areas of pain and to provide support to a problematic region. Patients will often say that after the application of Rocktape, they feel that the area is better reinforced and less pain is experienced during repetitive strain activities.

How is Rocktape Used in Chiropractic?

Rocktape was originally created to assist with recovery time of overused or injured muscles. Muscles will have decreased elasticity when they are injured or overused. Many treatments for injuries focus on returning the muscle to its natural shape and position, but this can restrict the movement of the injured body part, which leads to stiffness and slows down recovery time. By mimicking our muscles’ elasticity, taping can have the opposite effect and actually encourage our muscles to heal faster. It does this in a number of ways:

Support:

Taping can be used to give support to muscles that have been injured or overused, not only relieving some of the immediate pain, but also taking stress off that muscle and allowing for faster recovery.

Adhesive:

The adhesive for these tapes is far more complicated than the kind you would find on an everyday plaster. In order for these tapes to work as effectively as possible, it is crucial that they stay in one place. The glue used on these tapes will ensure that they do not move, will stay completely firmly on the body for days, and actually lifts up the skin underneath for breathability.

Healing:

Other than taking stress off and relieving the pain of an injured muscle, taping is designed to encourage lymphatic flow. The lymph system is the system through which a clear liquid (lymph) flows around the body. Lymph carries white blood cells, which fight infection, but also takes care of any waste, dead cells, etc that may be found in the body. By encouraging lymphatic flow, recovery time is greatly reduced.

Encouraging better movement:

The way we use our bodies is not always the best way to use them. For example, poor sleeping posture can lead to chronic pain. Similarly, if we learn or train to use certain body parts in certain ways, this can become constricting. Taping our bodies in a certain way can retrain them to move in ways that are more natural, easier, or safer.

Training/Prevention:

With the popularity of taping on the rise, many athletes have realized the potential of using tape to train. All the above benefits remain applicable, only in a way that prevents an injury rather than treating it.

It is clear that taping provides a whole host of benefits to tackle a variety of issues faced by all athletes, so whether you’re training for a marathon or recovering from an injury, taping is definitely something to consider.

The Van Ness Chiropractic Difference

At Van Ness Chiropractic, we realize that managing sports injuries is not one size fits all. Our doctors are Rocktape certified and we have the clinical knowledge to offer treatment that is both effective and empowering.  Call us today at 847-842-8070 to set up your appointment for a comprehensive examination and get on the road to health today.  You can also visit us at vannesschiro.com to find out more about rocktape in chiropractic.