shin splints

Kinesio Tape – An Effective Drug Free Alternative to Healing Injury

Apr 112012

Kinesio Tape on Knee for Patellar Tendonitis

Kinesio Tape is an effective drug-free treatment for a wide variety of muscular ailments designed to reduce pain and speed healing. Kinesio tape is a latex-free cotton fiber tape that may be stretched over an injured area. When musculature is damaged, the body often responds with swelling. This swelling, while intended as a natural defense to protect an injured area also impedes certain normal bodily processes that promote healing. Kinesio tape, applied properly to an injured area, creates a space between the skin and the muscle, effectively improving the flow of lymph fluid to speed healing. In addition, this space improves nerve conduction in the injured area. Kinesio taping is also used to improve muscle contraction and reduce muscle fatigue in performance athletes.

Kinesio taping has been made popular over the past several years due to its use by popular athletes such as David Beckham, Serena Williams, Lance Armstrong, olympic teams.

The effectiveness of Kinesio tape lies in two areas: the tape itself, different from athletic tape, lifts the skin creating space for fluid and nerve conduction between the skin and muscle; and in its application by a qualified health practitioner who understands biomechanics and kinesiology. The tape by itself does not heal, proper application by someone trained in it use is essential. Research on Kinesio tape is still in its early stages. Used as a stand alone procedure, the tape does not show significant clinical results. When used as an adjunctive treatment with other rehabilitative therapies, kinesio taping is beginning to show promise in the research literature.

My own experience as a clinician using kinesio tape on my patients (and occasionally myself) has been a very positive one. I have used it for conditions such as tennis elbow, knee pain (pateller tendonitis), rotor cuff injuries, shin splints, back pain and foot and ankle injuries. My experience has been about 85% of the patients report significant improvement in only 2 applications. The tape works 24/7, you can shower with it on and replace it every 2-4 days. Many athletes will even compete with the tape on.

González-Iglesias J ; Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C ; Cleland JA ; Huijbregts P ; Del Rosario Gutiérrez-Vega M (2009). Short-term effects of cervical kinesio taping on pain and cervical range of motion in patients with acute whiplash injury: a randomized clinical trial. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy 39(7): 515-21.

Paoloni M ; Bernetti A ; Fratocchi G ; Mangone M ; Parrinello L ; Del Pilar Cooper M ; Sesto L ; Di Sante L ; Santilli(2011). Kinesio Taping applied to lumbar muscles influences clinical and electromyographic characteristics in chronic low back pain patients.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine 47(2): 237-44.

Slupik A ; Dwornik M ; Bialoszewski D ; Zych E (2007). Effect of Kinesio Taping on bioelectrical activity of vastus medialis muscle. Preliminary report. Ortopedia, traumatologia, rehabilitacja. 9(6): 644-51.

Yoshida A ; Kahanov L (2007). The effect of kinesio taping on lower trunk range of motions. Research in sports medicine . 15(2): 103-12.

Effective Treatments for Shin Splints

Common Conditions 2 Responses »

Jul 172011

Shin Splints

Shin splints are also known as medial tibial stress syndrome.

Shin splints is a condition characterized by pain in the lower leg brought on by running or other athletic activity. It can also be caused or exacerbated by ill-fitting or inadequate shoes past their prime. It is an injury that causes inflammation of the muscles in the lower leg including the posterior tibialis, anterior tibialis, and flexor hallicus longus. The muscles are used in ankle plantar flexion—pointing your forefoot downward and is used in deceleration as seen in runners who do a lot of hill work up and down. Athletes who are required to stop and go frequently, such as in soccer or basketball may also have difficulties with shin splints. In severe cases, the pain does not stop following the end of athletic activity. If left untreated, shin splints can prevent involvement in future athletic activity.

Common treatments for this condition are NSAIDs, rest and ice. These treatments are not always ideal. Long term use of anti-inflammatory medication can cause serious health risks. Rest is not always possible during the height of the athletic season, for those who are weekend warriors, work still calls. These treatments will cause a reduction of symptoms, but will do nothing to prevent shin splints from occurring again.

A chiropractic approach allows the patient to treat the shin splints while limiting the use of NSAIDs. In addition, chiropractic approaches can accelerate the healing process, reducing the need for prolonged rest. Shin splints are caused by injury not a disease process, so of course prevention of the initial injury as well as avoidance of recurrence is ideal.

Chiropractic prevention and treatment for shin splints include:

running gait analysis to address any muscular imbalances
manual therapy of the inflamed muscle to speed up the reduction of swelling
ultrasound therapy
kinesio taping
natural topical anti-inflammatory with formulations including arnica, curcumin, boswellia
education about proper fitting shoes

custom-made orthotics to reduce over pronation and shock on impact
icing effected area

Usually with active care, under professional supervision the condition is reduced in a matter of days and under control in weeks. With proper education it is easy to prevent the recurrence of shin splints.

Stretching lower leg muscles such as the Gastrocnemius-Soleus Stretch will help (30secs X 3 sets). Strengthening exercises for the tibialis posterior and tibialis anterior are also helpful. This done by toe walking and heel walking for several minutes each way 2-3 X per day.

Toe Walk

Heel Walk