What is kinesiotaping?
Kinesiotaping (elastic or dynamic taping) means applying elastic cotton tape to the skin, with a stretch close to that of the skin itself. The tape contains no medication – the acrylic adhesive is activated by body heat, and the effect depends on where, in which direction and with how much tension it is applied.
It is different from rigid sports taping – the white, non-elastic tape that blocks movement. Kinesiotape does not restrict range of motion; it is meant to accompany the work of the muscle, not replace it.
When we use kinesiotaping
In the clinic we reach for tape most often with:
- overload injuries in active people – runner’s knee, tennis elbow, Achilles tendon pain,
- swelling and bruising after injury, including after an ankle sprain,
- back and neck pain in desk-based work – as a reminder about trunk position between visits,
- supporting a muscle after a strain, on the way back to sport,
- work on post-surgical scars – to improve tissue glide and elasticity,
- matches and competitions, when an athlete needs support for a specific start.
What tape can and cannot do
Kinesiotaping is an addition to treatment, not a method in itself – and that is how we describe it to patients. Research shows a moderate effect on pain and on the sense of body position, but no tape will rebuild muscle strength or cure the cause of an overload problem.
Realistically you can expect:
- less discomfort during movement in the days after the application,
- a better sense of what the joint or shoulder blade is doing when you lose control of its position,
- swelling and bruising settling faster after an injury,
- more comfort returning to activity – alongside work on strength and mobility.
How the application works at Fizjo-Fan
- Assessment – first we establish what hurts and why. The purpose of the application follows from the examination, not from where the tape sits in photos of athletes.
- Skin preparation – dry, clean skin with no lotion; dense hair at the site needs trimming.
- Application – we cut the tape and apply it with the tension chosen for the goal (pain, swelling, muscle support, scar).
- Checking it in movement – we make sure the tape does not limit range of motion or get in the way of your exercises.
- Instructions – you leave knowing how long to wear it, how to remove it and when to take it off earlier.
Looking after the tape and taking it off
The tape can get wet – showering, swimming and training are all fine. After contact with water, pat it dry with a towel rather than rubbing it, and do not use hot air to dry it.
Remove the tape slowly, in the direction of hair growth, ideally after a shower when the adhesive has softened – holding the skin with your other hand helps. If itching, burning or redness appears while you are wearing it, take the tape off and let us know.
Kinesiotaping is one part of the visit
At Fizjo-Fan tape complements manual therapy, soft tissue work and medical training – exactly like dry needling or IASTM. We do not charge for individual techniques: you pay for the visit, and what goes into it is decided after the assessment.