K-taping can be used to treat edema by improving localized fluid circulation and lymph drainage. It works by microscopically lifting the skin to create space for blood vessels and reduce pressure on pain receptors. This stimulates lymph vessels and improves the removal of fluid and waste from tissues, accelerating the healing process. K-tape can be applied in different directions and tensions to either facilitate or inhibit muscles as needed for conditions like overuse, weakness or injury.

1. K-taping for Edema
By: Michelle

2. Why?
 Aim of kinesiology
 Improves localized fluid circulation such as blood or
lymph
 decrease nerve pain
 provides anatomical support
 relax & lengthen muscles to enhance muscular and joint
range of motion
 assist proprioception
 retrain muscles more easily

3. Application
 Apply tape from origin (prox) to insertion (distal) to
facilitate
 Overused/hypertonic, acute, subacute
 0-25% tension
 Elastic rebounding proprioception provides feedback to
your brain to contract the muscle.
 Apply tape from insertion (distal) to origin (prox) to
inhibit
 weak/chronic
 25-50% tension
 Returning proprioceptive feedback in opp direction of
contraction

4.  Prox -> dist
 Facilitate
 0-25% tension
 Concentric
 Overuse/hypertonic/acu
te/subacute
 Dist -> prox
 Inhibit
 25-30% tension
 Eccentric
 Weak/chronic
O -> I I -> O

5. Application
 Starting position: relaxed and in pain free position
 Base(starting point): skin over the most medial (near
the heart) lymph node
 Application: cut lengthwise 2-3x (3 pronged or 4
tentacle) with the outer strips applied convexly to
increase surface are.
 Place the uncut base of the fan slightly above the
lymph node to which lymph drainage is being
directed. Remaining tape should be applied with
very light tension over the area of edema.
 End point: skin inferior to the swelling
 Stretch: none to prevent ripples or folds in the tape.

6. Contraindications
 Over an open wound
 Over a fragile skin
 Over lymph cysts, fistula or radiogenic fibrosis
 Over a malignant tumor
 Over an area where there is a blood cot
 Over an infected area
 If the patient is allergic to the tape (it can be tested
by applying a piece of tape without stretching and
kept for a day)

8. Principle (input-output)
 Within the layers of the skin and encompassing the
joints are sensory receptors that identify stretch,
strain, pain, hot, cold, vibration, pressure.-
 The brain then uses this information to coordinate
movements, or motor output.
 Following an injury the central nervous system in the
brain starts to receive incorrect signals.
 The body will adapt to the change in its’ current
environment, leading to changes in movement
patterns. -
 By placing the target tissue on a comfortable stretch
you are exposing these receptors deep within the
skin, altering the message being sent to the brain.

9. Principle
 Once inflammation occurs it increases pressure on
the touch receptors. Proprioceptic information from a
muscle is brought by the muscle spindles and the
golgi organ.
 Free nerve endings transmits pain and position, to
the central nervous system. This physical effect
activates
 ruffini mechanoreceptors
 meissner’s corpusles
 pacinian corpuscles
 Aids in the pressure relief from the lifting technique
of the tape

10. Effects of k tape
 When kinesiology tape is applied correctly to the skin
over the injured area, it targets different receptors
within the somatosensory system.
 The elasticity in the tape microscopically lifts the
upper layers of the skin, creating more space for
compressed blood and lymph vessel, skin fascia,
inflamed muscles and compressed pain receptors.

11. How k tape works
 This space is believed to reduce pressure on the lymph
channels and create more space for circulation, and
improve lymph drainage through the area by directing
fluid toward a less congested lymphatic pathway and
lymph node.
 This process creates small convolutions or wrinkles on its
surface by increasing interstitial space. This process
stimluates lymph vessels to open the valves and collect
more fluid which provides a similar neuro-sensory
response as massage does.
 These convolutions lift the skin to relieve underlying
pressure and create a microscopic space between the
skin and the tissues below, with alternating areas of
negative and positive pressure

12. Healing
 As blood flow improves, oxygen and nutrients are
then able to be delivered to the injured tissues,
which in turn accelerates the healing process to
assist with repair of damaged tissues and
accelerates the breakdown and removal of waste
product when muscles are tired.
 The purpose of the tape is to illicit the correct
sensory input, and ensure the movement
coordinated by the brain promotes a correct motor
output.

13. Edema taping tib anterior

14. Inflammation of the Lower Leg:

15. Edema at the knee

16. L arm & breast reconstruction lymphedema

17. Drainage of the medial upper arm

18. Referances
 http://www.fortcollinslymph-massage.com/Kinesio-Tape.html
 http://www.foresthillsrehab.com/Kinesiotaping.html
 http://www.theratape.com/education-center/how-does-kinesiology-tape-work/
 http://www.athletictapeinfo.com/category/how-kinesiology-tape-works/
 http://www.thera-bandacademy.com/elements/clients/docs/Bassett2010-
kt__635531398222275356.pdf
 http://www.ultimate-performance.co.uk/docs/UP_ktape_guide.pdf
 http://primalmovementsolutions.blogspot.com/2014/11/kinesio-taping-for-
performance.html
 http://www.kon.org/urc/v9/athletic-training/stuart.html
 http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=55595
 https://books.google.com/books?id=HVXORrTa5poC&pg=PA682&lpg=PA682&dq=kta
ping+and+eccentric+pull&source=bl&ots=LuLHzK8iTr&sig=JgwakA23qUEU-
WIhHzSRg2J5_7w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAGoVChMI_KzUorbyxgIV0_2AC
h2hcAKX#v=onepage&q=ktaping%20and%20eccentric%20pull&f=false
 http://thescienceofphysicalrehabilitation.blogspot.com/2012_07_01_archive.html
 http://www.efisioterapia.net/articulos/fisioterapia-cancer-mama
 http://kinesiopiste.fi/en/services/physiotherapy/kinesio-taping/
 http://proactive4pt.com/kinesio-taping-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-do/
 Plus Gary’s two books