The kinesio tape is a stretchable strip made of elastic cotton material, skin-thin, adhesive to the skin. It is used to reduce pain, limited mobility, joint instability, swelling, without side effects in a short time.
As a supplement to Pilates, there are many possibilities available to improve its impact and efficiency.
The inventor of kinesiology tape, Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese physician-chiropractor, first applied it in the 1970s based on his own experiments. Until then, rigid bandages were used for the treatment of muscles, joints, and limbs. The kinesio tape hardly restricted the movement of patients, largely reducing the healing time of joint and muscle problems.
Dr. Kase was more of a natural healing thinker, emphasizing prevention, like Joseph Pilates. In the field of healing, he liked to explore complex solutions customized for each person. There were no fixed rules, as everyone had different problems.
He worked with medical doctors, physiotherapists, massage therapists, and naturopaths to connect different professional views.
By combining medical science, psychology, and complementary medicine, Dr. Kenzo focused on prevention and maintaining health. He also emphasized the patient-doctor relationship, and not only the physical treatment but also the mental and emotional well-being of the patients. Dr. Kenzo used manual therapies on joints, but often they weren't enough, as many times everything returned to the original state shortly after treatment. He tried different tapes to make treatments work better and last longer.
Initially, these tapes were rigid, causing joint stiffness and limited movement. Moreover, the glue frequently caused allergic reactions.
Despite many failures, after numerous experiments, a flexible, porous, breathable, lightweight cotton tape was developed. Its strength was similar to human skin which was suitable for preserving joint mobility. The tape also featured a hypoallergenic glue that didn't cause skin problems or rashes. In the late '70s, Dr. Kenzo Kase patented the kinesio taping procedure.
The Kinesio Tape technique can be successfully applied in the following cases:
- Circulatory issues in the case of swelling
- Frozen shoulder
- Pain reduction and relief
- Increased joint range of motion
- Damaged nerves
- Providing support for instability
- Lymphatic circulation problems
- Assisting muscle function
- Supporting veins
- Maintaining joint stability
- Posture correction
- Segmentally affecting internal organs
- Preventing sports injuries
- Treating swelling and edema
- Rehabilitation after traumas (e.g., fractures, sprains, dislocations, muscle, and ligament tears)
The Kinesio Tape application is contraindicated
Absolute contraindications:
- Burned skin surface from heat, chemicals, sun, or tanning beds
- Extensive open wound in the area where the tape is applied
- Application on the stomach and lower back during the first trimester of pregnancy
- Risk of thrombosis
- Tumors
Precautions needed:
- Protruding moles or warts on the skin
- Recent trauma (e.g., fractures, sprains, dislocations, muscle and ligament tears)
- Aging, thin, dry skin that tears easily
- Diabetic patients injecting insulin around the injection area
After applying the tape, it is essential to move the affected area daily.
Hungarian 
English