Kinesiology Tape for Swelling Relief: How It Works and Why It Helps

An Introduction to Kinesiology Tape

Have you ever seen athletes at the Olympics on TV with brightly coloured tape all over their bodies? That’s kinesiology tape. Also known as therapeutic elastic tape, it is applied to the body to lessen pain, reduce swelling, provide support and improve performance. There are textbooks written on all the different ways one can therapeutically apply this tape all over the body. In today’s blog post, we are going to look specifically at how this magical tape can help with swelling.

How I First Discovered Kinesiology Tape for Swelling

Swelling is a common concern for many people. It may appear as a result of an injury, a chronic condition, post surgery or a variety of other reasons. Finding effective methods to deal with swelling of any kind is crucial for promoting healing and restoring function. I often tell my clients the story of when I twisted my ankle very badly right at the beginning of my massage career. It was so severe that I was limping and my whole foot was bruised. Being a Lymphatic Therapist, I understood how Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) could help my recovery. (Read my other blog post about MLD to learn more about it). Luckily, I worked with another MLD therapist, so I booked a session with him and as we were nearing the end of the session, he reached for some kinesiology tape. I had never heard of it before. He applied the tape to my foot and lower leg and told me to leave it on for several days. After a few days, I saw him again for another MLD session. He took the tape off and, lo and behold, the skin under where the tape was had returned to normal. The skin on the sides of where the tape had been (not covered with the tape) was still purple and full of bruising. Mind blowing, right?

A Brief History of Kinesiology Tape

Kinesio Tape (now a trademarked name) was originally developed by a Japanese chiropractor, Dr. Kenzo Kase, in the 1970’s. Since then it has become widely recognized for its therapeutic benefits. Elastic therapeutic tape is highly specialized and was designed to mimic human skin. It is thin, stretchable and breathable which allows for a wide range of movement without any restriction. In fact, when it is on, you can hardly feel that it is there! It is that subtle.

Let’s take a look at how kinesiology tape is effective for swelling:

1. Lymphatic Drainage Enhancement: 

   One of the primary ways this tape helps reduce swelling is by enhancing the body’s natural lymphatic drainage capabilities. The tape is applied in specific patterns on the skin resulting in a lifting effect that creates micro-spaces between the skin and underlying tissue. This micro-lift encourages the movement of more lymphatic fluid, draining excess fluid from the swollen area.

2. Increased blood circulation:

   Kinesiology tape also increases local circulation which is critical for delivering nutrients and more oxygen to the tissues and removing metabolic waste products. Improved circulation to the area where the tape is applied assists in reducing inflammation and accelerating the body’s natural healing processes.

3. Pain reduction:

   Where there is swelling, there is usually pain. Therapeutic elastic tape can help decrease pain by providing support to the affected area and reducing pressure on pain receptors. The elastic component of the tape allows for gentle compression. (Note: this may seem contradictory to it also “lifting” the skin. With this kind of tape, they are not mutually exclusive. The tape can have a micro-lifting effect while still applying a compressive force. See? Magic.)

Is kinesiology tape for swelling right for you?

Using kinesiology tape is a promising solution to reduce swelling if you are looking for a non-invasive and drug-free approach. Its ability to reduce pain, increase circulation and enhance lymphatic drainage makes it a valuable tool in the recovery process for those dealing with swelling. Therapeutic elastic tape also enhances the effect of MLD and for this reason, I often tape clients after an MLD session. Proper application of the tape is very important to maximize its effectiveness. However, don’t fret! I am happy to explain the drainage pathways and how to properly apply the tape so that clients have the confidence to tape themselves at home. It’s fairly easy once you know how. Keep calm and get your tape on!

Norgyun is a qualified Manual Lymph Drainage therapist who specializes in lymphedema. She has taken lymph taping training through the Vodder School of North America. Please contact her if you have any questions about how kinesiology taping and/or MLD can be of benefit to you.