The Benefits of Rock Tape and What it is….
By Dr Luke Attkins
Chiropractor
Kinesio tape was first created in Japan in 1979 by an Acupuncturist and Chiropractor, Kenzo Kase. He believed that with a flexible tape, it could help stimulate circulation to injured muscles.
Rock Tape is a type of therapeutic kinesiology tape that helps relieve; fatigued muscles, help with performance, and can help a person utilize their full range of motion with the taped joints. These effects of RockTape are not the only things it has been shown to do, there are other ways that kinesiology taping can be used to help the everyday person function and help their performance. Some of the mechanisms it can also help with are posture and muscle aches and pains as well as helping assist with swelling and bruising. Rock tape is made up of 91% cotton, 3% nylon and an acrylic adhesive like a Band-Aid. It is 100% latex free.
Applying an elastic tape on the skin creates a lifting effect, decompressing the subcutaneous layers beneath the tape. There are three proposed mechanisms by which Rock tape can influence the body:
- Fluid effect – improved fluid flow by reducing compression of the vascular and lymphatic vessels
- Mechanical effect – decompression of soft tissue layers to allows better glide between tissue layers
- Neurological effect – decreased pain and improved body awareness
Some of the conditions that Rock Tape can be used for are.
- ankle sprains
- Achilles’ tendonitis
- golfers and tennis elbow
- shin splints
- low back pain/disorders
- shoulder problems
- plantar fasciitis
- swelling and bruising
- calf pain
- carpal tunnel syndrome
These are just a few conditions that RockTape can have a positive effect on the body. When removing Rock tape, it is important to remove the tape slowly and in the direction of the hair. Rock tape comes off easily when wet and you can also use oil to help break down the adhesive.
Kinesiology taping used as a therapeutic technique is a very helpful tool for the body and can also be used alongside all conservative treatment and management strategies.