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Many physical therapists are taping the foot and ankle with kinesio/KT tape rather than cloth athletic tape. My understanding is that these tapes have more elasticity but less stiffness than athletic tape. The benefits would be breathability, water-compatibility, longer-lasting, better tension maintenance. The downsides might be less stiffness/less force from tape - less support.

Are podiatrists using kinesio tape for low,high-dye strapping, figure eight, etc.? How well does it work?

 

That's an interesting question (that I dont have an answer to). It sounds as though this tape may be good to graduate to after rigid strapping for plantar fasciitis or other ankle/foot injuries, to allow gradual strengthening (by stepping down in tension) whilst still providing support? Has anyone tried this?

 

Kinesio tape would not work well with high and low dye taping imo

way too much flex in the tape - with way force involved.

Kinesio tape is the new cool, nothing wrong with good sports tape and bent bits of plastic when running,jumping activities are involved.

I don´t see this

If the Fascia has too much tension and becomes painful - the most likely cause of this is micro tears in the fascia. As the body heals the fascia will become thicker and less flexible, which could be argued as stronger or more stiff.

So you really want the fascia to be move flexible not stronger.

Some reading

Plantar Fasciitis
A Degenerative Process (Fasciosis) Without Inflammation

 

I meant gradual strengthening of the supporting structures, while the fascia heals. Rather than getting weaker by using rigid tape for the full return to sports loading - gradual arch strengthening rather than strapping, then throwing the post strapped arch into the deep end? Just another way of conditioning

 

Has anyone tried doing a pre and post low-dye taping jacks test of rigid vs. elastic tape?

 

I like the sound of this. When more dynamic control is needed it might be wise to make the transition. Direct (rigid) vs. indirect (elastic) control of joint motion.
What are peoples thoughts on the proposed lifting effect that elastic tapes provide when applied on stretch? Apparently this lifting effect decompresses the structures below and increases blood flow. I have not seen any scientific evidence to support this but it is an interesting proposed theory.

 

Why not contact the guys who sell the tape and teach you how to use it for their thoughts? I did a Rocktape seminar recently and the staff there are very helpful and approachable. Haven't used it much so far due to being on leave. One of the main points is that it's not meant to be an alternative to rigid strapping. The theory behind it's use is different- working on stimulation of mechanoreceptors in the skin/fascia rather than to support/limit movement etc.

 

Yeah, that's kind of why I thought it might be a viable alternative. As studies have shown, athletic tape loses so much tension its unlikely to be applying therapeutic moments very long after application. Various researchers have tried to figure out if the apparently beneficial effect, post tension-loss, is due to receptor stim, placebo, voodoo or whatever. If this stuff maintains a looser tension for longer it might be a good replacement.

Although, with the foot, if one if looking to stimulate receptors, the sole seems like a more logical place.

 

Thats exactly right - it works on a completely different level. I recently attended an introductory Kinesiology Taping course and found it very interesting. I had a bit of a play around with various strappings, tendo achilles, plantar fascia etc and it feels completely different to rigid sports tape, but still effective in its own way.

The only hesitation/concern I have is that the forces that go through the foot and lower limb are generally much greater than some of the other joints/regions that kinesiology taping is used for - eg shoulder. Time will tell.

I am looking forward to attending an official kinesiology taping training workshop to learn more about this taping method as I believe it has a lot of potential to be a great treatment tool.

 

I like these, one piece straps, stretch resistant so they give a lot more support than the K tape which I find is too elastic for treating the problem. They have them at foottape.com