The Paralympic Games are underway in Rio in September. And like the Olympic Games, we again see a lot of brightly colored tape on the skin of world-class athletes. I was recently asked about the purpose of this tape. In the health profession we call this “super stretchy tape constructed of cotton and elastic fibers” by a simpler name: Kinesio Tape. It has applications not only in the world of sports medicine but also in my own world of pediatric therapy.
Refining KT skills, I was joined by fellow TEAM members last summer for a training in Dallas.
Athletes use Kinesio Tape for multiple reasons such as stabilizing a frequently used shoulder. The same taping application can be used for a child with Down Syndrome who has low muscle tone and needs extra input to stabilize her shoulder while she crawls or plays with toys. Kinesio Tape can also relieve pain by promoting the draining of fluid from an injured area.
The “magic” of Kinesio Tape stems from how it is applied. I heavily rely on my training in anatomy, physiology and the musculoskeletal system every time I use Kinesio Tape. For example, where I first apply the Kinesio Tape to the skin and the direction I stretch the tape really matters. One direction will facilitate movement while the opposite direction inhibits movement. This has many wonderful applications in pediatric therapy such as helping a child develop better posture control or addressing pain in joints and tendons.
After I incorporated Kinesio Tape as a component of my treatment plan for 11-year-old Steven to address toe walking, I laughed when he asked me to also put tape on his arm to help his basketball shot. Steven loves sports! When kids know that part of their therapy also helps world-class athletes, they can’t help but feel stronger and more courageous.
As a therapist, I strive to provide the best, most effective treatment for kids to have success meeting their therapy goals. However, an even greater goal is to help kids build the strength and courage to win “gold medals” in their most important contests…THEIR LIVES!
Cassie Nolan (pictured right serving in Guatemala with TEAMworks) holds a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Central Arkansas. She was initially introduced to Kinesio Tape applications during her field work at Children’s Therapy TEAM as a graduate student under the supervision of Occupational Therapist Julie Marvin. After becoming a licensed therapist, she honed in on her Kinesio Tape skills through training with Pam Samaniego, a certified Kinesio Tape instructor and physical therapist. In her work with children with special needs, she holds strong to her favorite quote by Olympian Scott Hamilton, “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.”
Children’s Therapy TEAM believes that every child who may benefit from therapy should be able to access it… PERIOD. We feel strongly about it. That’s why we offer financial assistance to families at every income level, even those with insurance, if the cost of treatment creates a hardship. Therapy may even be provided at no charge, depending on a family’s level of need. Please don’t hesitate to contact our Family Support TEAM to learn more about options. Every child deserves the best we can give!