If you’ve ever looked around at sports events both in person and on TV, you’ve likely noticed those brightly colored strips of tape placed in what appear to be random spots on athletes’ bodies. Those bits of tape are far more than bandages—they’re a physical therapy tool designed to help both weekend warriors and professional athletes operate at their full potential. It’s called kinesio taping. Depending on your needs, your therapist may recommend taping as a part of your physical therapy treatment. Here are a few of the top benefits you may experience from taping.

Better Inflammation Management
One of the biggest issues people face when trying to recover from a sports injury is inflammation. Swelling can lead to pain, restrict movement, and make it difficult for you to feel and perform at your best. Kinesio taping can help keep your body’s inflammatory response under control. Though it won’t stop the swelling entirely, it can cut down on the severity of it so you can focus on rebuilding your strength without coping with the pain.

Less Long-Term Muscle Fatigue
If you’ve ever put yourself through an intense workout, you know that muscle fatigue is a real problem. It keeps you from being able to work out properly for a few days afterward and can even leave you wanting to spend the afternoon vegging on your couch. Active recovery can make all the difference, but when your muscles are tired, it’s almost too much to ask your body to handle. Kinesio taping takes some of the strain off of your muscles so they can recover more quickly. 

Better Support Than Braces
Some injuries and weaknesses require additional support if you want to keep doing what you love. Braces can be effective, but they often restrict your range of motion and make it hard for you to perform the way you want to. Kinesio taping provides the support your muscles need without restricting your range of motion. This means you’ll be able to engage in your preferred sport (with your physical therapist’s permission) without having to make adjustments for restricted movement. Over the course of your workout, you’ll end up putting less strain on your supporting muscles without putting undue stress on your injury.

Boosts Strength While You Recover
Kinesio taping also helps improve strength in recovering muscle groups. This allows you to get more out of every physical therapy session you attend. The more you can benefit from each session, the sooner you’ll be on the mend and able to resume normal activity.

Interested in Learning More?
Kinesio taping is a great tool in your recovery process, but it’s not something you should try to do on your own. If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of this unique recovery aid or just need a little extra help recovering from a severe sports injury, don’t wait. Contact your nearest location and get help from an experienced physical therapy team that understands how to help you manage, strengthen, and recover from injuries safely.