Taping – The Whys And Hows One of the coolest tools for supporting your muscles (or at least I think it’s cool!) is taping. Let’s have a look at what taping is, what it can help, and if it’s right for you. What is taping?
Put simply, taping is when we use a specially designed tape to support your muscles and/or joints. It’s not a treatment to use in place of your healthcare practitioner. But it is a tool that we use to help support your body between treatments. What can taping help with? It has a variety of applications! As a myotherapist, I use taping to: Stabilise joints that are injured or weak Increase proprioception, or location awareness, of the body part Aid in recovery from acute and chronic injury Reduce fluid and swelling in an injured body part Enhance athletic performance and prevent injuries It can be helpful for a variety of people, from athletes to people with chronic pain and those with an acute injury. What types of tapes are there? There are two main types of tape that I use in the clinic: rigid tape and kinesiotape. Rigid tape is just what it sounds like. The goal is to hold the joint in a specific position for a period of time so that it is able to recover. Kinesiotape is a newer kind of tape that moulds to the skin and moves with the body. It is less restrictive, and is helpful for many applications. It’s particularly useful for helping people to be aware of how they are holding their body. When we’re injured, we tend to hold ourselves wherever is least painful – but that’s not always the best location for recovery! This tape helps you to be aware of that, so you can correct it. Kinesiotaping also has a pain reducing effect by applying a constant stimulation to the skin. Its applied with the tight muscle in a stretched position, so that when you return to your normal posture the tape holds the muscle slightly stretched. You might see or feel the tape pucker - that is what its designed to do! Can I do my own taping? I’m not your mum. If you want to DIY your taping, that’s up to you. But there are benefits to getting it done professionally: 1. You get taped with high quality tape 2. If it’s a repeat taping, I will quickly reassess to see whether a different taping technique may be better – for example, I might use rigid tape for the first taping, then switch to kinesiotaping. I might even use both! 3. I make sure that the injured part is positioned correctly 4. You don’t have to tape yourself one-handed, or twist around to tape anywhere on your back half! Taping aftercare There are things you can do to make sure your tape lasts and your skin stays happy: To make sure tape adheres properly, it’s best to avoid exercise or showering for 1-2 hours after taping. Although you can shower with your tape, it’s best to let it dry properly. Otherwise, it might get a bit smelly! Pat it dry rather than rubbing it with the towel so the ends don't come up. If the ends do come up, theres a few things you can do. The Kinesiotape is heat activated, so usually giving it a quick rub to get heat back into the tape will get it sticking again. If the tape is only coming up a little at the ends but won't stick back down, putting a bandaid over the top to hold the end down can give your tape a little extra life. If its coming up a lot, trim the tape (or ask someone to help you trim it) When removing tape, take your time! Some people can have fragile skin that is inflamed or may even tear when removed too quickly. Slowly remove the tape in the direction of your hair growth (otherwise you might get an accidental wax effect!) If your tape is stuck fast, use oil to dissolve the stickiness - even cooking oil from your kitchen can do the trick! Some clients also remove it in a hot shower for the same reason. When you remove your tape, leave the skin to recover for a day or two before re-taping. Otherwise, your skin is at risk of being damaged. Do your joints need some taping support, but you don’t want a full myotherapy appointment every week? Never fear! For current clients, I offer a taping service – you pop in, and I’ll get you taped up for just $25. You can get re-taped between regular appointments, AND you can still claim it on your health insurance! To book in your slot, contact me directly or call 0401212934. You might love your myotherapy sessions – in fact, I hope you do! But I never pretend that myotherapy is the be-all and end-all of healthcare. I’m an advocate for a holistic approach to your health. So today, I wanted to share some reasons why combining myotherapy with other therapies can help you to be your healthiest self. Combining therapies helps identify problem areas
I’m trained to spot health conditions related to the muscles, joints and bones. But other therapists are trained to spot issues elsewhere. By seeing more than one practitioner, we can work together to make sure we oversee your health in a holistic way. Often, teamwork is a more effective way to spot potential problems and address them before they get worse. Combining therapies ensures you have the support you need Looking after your muscles is important, especially if you have a chronic condition. But if you do have a chronic condition, it’s more than just your muscles that need support. When you add in another therapy, you can look after more aspects of your wellbeing. Combining therapies has a complementary effect Different therapies can work together to bring around a better outcome. For example, I can work the knots out of your muscles every session. But if they are stress-related, you might want to work with a naturopath and/or counsellor to work on a stress management program. That way, the benefits of my treatments will last longer for you. Combining therapies offers better education about your health Therapists are experts within their field. I can explain your muscles to you until I’m blue in the face. But other practitioners can give you insights into other aspects of wellbeing. The more you learn about your body and your health, the easier it is for you to keep healthy and happy. Combining therapies is preventative care Prevention is always better than treating a problem. The best way to prevent ill health is to actively work on it with a team of health experts. Seeing more than one practitioner means that you’re covering more bases with prevention. Practitioners I love working with I’m happy to work with anyone who is on your healthcare team! You may have different practitioners, depending on what support you need. But I love seeing my clients working with:
If you have a quality healthcare team you work well with, you will get the best healthcare available – it’s that simple! You can book your appointment online, or call me on 0401212934 so I can help you find a time that suits you best. It’s a new year, and that means we’re all ready to get healthier. But did you know that myotherapy can help you to achieve some of your goals? Let’s look at why regular myotherapy might be a good addition to your New Year’s Resolutions. Myotherapy aids in recovery from exercise
A lot of people hit the gym or sign up with a personal trainer in the New Year. Unfortunately, you can start off with a lot of enthusiasm – and that means a lot of pain during recovery. Often this can lead to you giving up after just a week or two, as it becomes too painful. The good news is recovery doesn’t have to suck! A myotherapy treatment, particularly early on, can boost your muscle’s recovery time. This means that your muscles will hurt less, recover quickly, and move the way they should. And that means you can get back into the gym sooner and achieve your goals! I recommend: Fortnightly or monthly treatments for the first 3 months of an exercise program Maintenance with sessions every 4-8 weeks, depending on how you feel Myotherapy is a good form of self-care Is adulting on your list for the New Year? More of us are realising that preventative is the way to go with our health. That is where myotherapy can be a good investment in your long-term health. When your body functions properly, you function properly. Healthy muscles and joints mean less pain, more energy and the freedom to do the things you want to do. How much more adult-y would you be if you didn’t have to deal with aching shoulders and a stiff sore neck? Put it on your non-negotiable list. Your muscles will thank you. I recommend: Maintenance with sessions every 4-8 weeks, depending on how you feel Myotherapy can be a great treat More and more, people are understanding how important it is to treat yourself. And the best treat is one that improves your health, instead of deteriorating it! You won’t get bloated, feel hungover or get sugar cravings when you get a myotherapy treatment. What you will be is feeling good within your body, because your muscles will be happier and healthier. So why not make the most of your health insurance and get a session that makes you feel good from the inside out? I recommend: Treating yourself at least 4 times per year – after all, you deserve a good treatment! The more often you can make time, the better you’ll feel. Ready to get your body happy and healthy? Make sure you book in for your January appointments here. Spots are filling up fast! As we get into the party season over summer, you’ll be wearing heels and thongs instead of runners. But if you find that you start to get more aches and pains, your shoe choice might be to blame. How shoes affect posture
The way that our feet hit the ground when we move has a massive impact on the joints and muscles of the body. And that means it affects our posture. When we wear heels, for example, our bodies tilt forward. The body tries to compensate in response, but the muscles and joints cop the strain. The weight of your body is held on the balls of your feet, instead of balanced between the balls and the heels. Your knees and hips move forward and your back flexes backward to maintain balance. Flats might not have the height issue, but they can also impact on the body. Flat shoes cause the weight to be mostly on the heels, so the lower body tries to compensate so we don’t fall backwards. Wearing flats constantly can mean our posterior chain – including the calves, hamstrings and glutes – can weaken from lack of use. Even thongs (or flip-flops, for non -Aussie consumers) can cause postural issues. They have been found to cause pain in the feet and even hips and lower back, due to the lack of support and altered gait (how you walk when wearing them). The real issue is that you have to grip the shoe with your toes, so they are overworked. Pain that can occur So if your shoes are altering the posture of your body, pain can often follow. Incorrect shoes can lead to issues including:
How to reduce it I’m sure all myotherapists and bodyworkers would prefer everyone wear sensible shoes 24-7! But that’s easier said than done. So if you think your shoes are potentially causing issues, here’s some small tweaks to reduce the issues:
Not ready to give up your heels or cute flats? I don’t blame you! So instead, let’s work together to counteract the muscle imbalances. Pop in for a 30 minute appointment, and we can get you back to feeling good. Do you experience post-exercise soreness? Does DOMS get you down? Our muscles can only do so much before they need a bit of TLC. But today, I'm going to give you some tips on how to reduce the aches and pains caused by exercise. .1. Stretch It Out
Stretching helps to relax muscles that are tight from exercise. Remember: stretches are best done when you're still warm – so use it as an exercise cool-down. You may also stretch during gentle exercise such as yoga. Major muscle groups to stretch: quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, pecs, traps, calves, and anything that's sore 2. Roll It Out Foam rolling is a cheap option that helps release trigger points. It's a great addition to a cool-down routine. Using a foam roller, you roll over the muscle until you find a tender spot. Gently roll over that spot until you feel relief. Foam rolling is all about self-releasing the over-active muscles. By releasing the trigger points, it allows the muscles to relax, which means less soreness the next day. Major muscle groups to roll: quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, lower back, middle and upper back, side of upper legs (IT band), inner thighs, and anything that's sore 3. Treat Yourself To A Treatment If you experience constant post-exercise soreness, a myotherapist can help. As a myotherapist, I can offer many treatments that can alleviate sore muscles. From massage and trigger point therapy to cupping and even taping, there's a solution for your pain. Myotherapy works because it treats the muscle pain that may not respond to stretching or rolling. It's also much easier – and more enjoyable – to have someone treat your muscles for you. We all deserve a good massage! Have a question about stretching, rolling or booking a treatment? I'd love to hear from you! Are you local to Ferntree Gully and looking for a Personal Trainer? Courtney Taylor at Fitness Taylor'd For You runs regular boot camp classes in the Knox area. Thanks to Courtney and the boot camp class for the fun photo! I'm super excited to share that I've created a workshops series on Self Care & Injury Prevention. We'll look at the whole body over 7 weeks, including a basic guide to the anatomy of the area, talking about common injuries in each region, stretching and strengthening, and self treatment. As a Myotherapist, a big part of my job is to help patients better understand their injury and form a self care plan to take home that supports our in-clinic treatment plan.
The workshops are free and start on May 6th, and run for just an hour each Saturday morning at 9:30am til July 1st. If you experience pain anywhere in your body, I would love to see you at one (or more!) of these workshops to give you some of my favourite self care strategies and to answer any questions you have about injury prevention and corrective exercise. Make a booking to come along, the workshops are being held at the Simple Wellness Myotherapy clinic in Berwick - upstairs, at BFirm PT 27 Enterprise Avenue. |
Meet Our Team
We have a team of great practitioners available 7 days a week at our Rowville clinic. Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|