My experience about the KT brand is mixed, and I'm writing this to fine-tune general knowledge of the benefits and uses of taping techniques.
The KT people have done something wonderful in providing an expansive and easy to use base for everyone. However (and of course I've got a "however"), their generalization may disocunt the benefits and proper technique of taping. Here's why. Their tapes are precut and pre-split. Actual taping requires varying lenghts and unsplit sections of tapes, neither which can be found in the pretty boxes of KT.
I recommend "Accutaping" or "The perfect kinesio taping" book to further your knowledge as these are my sources for my "howevers" (and I haven't found any others). In both of these publications, one which is written by two doctors, and the other which is written by the original Japanese Kinesio taping gurus (with often funny syntax, like those instructions translated by Chinese to English), the precise causes, symptoms and methods are examined and illustrated. One thing though I haven't found in either of my sources is reference to stretching or NOT stretching the tape, which I found very useful from KT. It is clear, however, after looking at other sources (even Rock taping on youtube), that when taping serves to losen tightened msucles, tendons and ligaments and the body is in a stretched position (as in a dorsiflexed foot before applying plantar fascia taping), the tape is partially stretched (never at the end where we lay it down last)... When mobilizing an area and/or opening up range of motion, as in the shoulder or back, where the bones in the joints may be misaligned or damaged (rotator cuff, knee) the tape is often unstretched.
In closing, as with anything valuable, you must find the reason and the mechanics for using tape, learn the body (sceletal and muscular map) and identify the source of injury. This is the most important paragraph in my ramble, KNOW what and why you are doing to truly help yourself or others. I have found great results in taping but sometimes it's accompanied by trial and error because the injured person cannot, in whole, relate the symptoms, or the symptoms may overlap with many causes that warrant different methods. In all, taping will not damage, if it doesn't fix, nor will it increase your risk for anything damaging. It will speed up recovery and enable usage. lessening pain and discomfort in the meantime.
Research, learn, and get the actual Kinesio tape in a roll that you can cut! I also have KT on hand for general quick fixes but what good does it do if it's too short, or rolls up at the splits that should've been solid?
ok, I do have real work to do, so Arrivederci gente!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
For muscle, tendon, ligament injuries
In all my years of breaking down my body I've learned that less is more when it comes to injury treatment, unless it's an acute or debilitating injury that needs attention.
Here are my beliefs:
1. Ice is a miracle treatment, but needs to be applied right away and combined with number
2. rest
3. Kinesio taping is absolutely wonderful and if applied correctly can increase recovery and mobility and use by a LOT.
4. Invasive stuff, and here I'll include drugs too, should only be used if really necessary. Some study was released recently showing a 4 fold increase for chances of cancer for people who regularly use certain NSAIDs. Top of the list: ibuprofen. Bottom of the list: naproxen. And we haven't even gotten to the replacement options that MARKET artificial joints then 10 years later show up in TV ads for suing the manufacturer. Just like DePuy hips now. REgardless, they don't generally last more then 10 years and the people who have had them and believe to be doing fine look like zombie movie extras. I personally know of a (popular) athlete who insists on doing Ironmans and full marathons while running like he has just gone through a minefield (and scored), dragging a leg behind and tilting to one side. I also know of another one who is so old, and so slow, that his 10 mile a day runs probably take him 4 hours while everyone watches with pain. Because it looks painful. If you'd ask them they'd tell you they are doing fine, doing great! Such world-class performance (from a cripple - sorry).
Jack Lalanne would tell them to sit down.
Injections and manipulations may or may not work. Why take the chance?
Me, I just keep on running on a torn ACL, keeping my steps VERY much inline and neutral, taping and moaning. I just run less and a bit slower. No more plyometrics, lateral movements and downhill impact. Geez, 20 years from now I'll be an artifical knee candidate, but if I've rested enough in the onset period I wouldn't have this problem now.
It is perhaps the hardest part... rest.
IN the meantime, taping is much better than pills. Ice is much better then heat (unless you have a nerve issue, but 90% of the time it's not the case). Proper conditioning and rest are key to avoiding getting here.
Still, try ice and tape before reaching for anything else. No, I'm not a doctor. Or a zombie-runner minefield-shuffler.
:)
Here are my beliefs:
1. Ice is a miracle treatment, but needs to be applied right away and combined with number
2. rest
3. Kinesio taping is absolutely wonderful and if applied correctly can increase recovery and mobility and use by a LOT.
4. Invasive stuff, and here I'll include drugs too, should only be used if really necessary. Some study was released recently showing a 4 fold increase for chances of cancer for people who regularly use certain NSAIDs. Top of the list: ibuprofen. Bottom of the list: naproxen. And we haven't even gotten to the replacement options that MARKET artificial joints then 10 years later show up in TV ads for suing the manufacturer. Just like DePuy hips now. REgardless, they don't generally last more then 10 years and the people who have had them and believe to be doing fine look like zombie movie extras. I personally know of a (popular) athlete who insists on doing Ironmans and full marathons while running like he has just gone through a minefield (and scored), dragging a leg behind and tilting to one side. I also know of another one who is so old, and so slow, that his 10 mile a day runs probably take him 4 hours while everyone watches with pain. Because it looks painful. If you'd ask them they'd tell you they are doing fine, doing great! Such world-class performance (from a cripple - sorry).
Jack Lalanne would tell them to sit down.
Injections and manipulations may or may not work. Why take the chance?
Me, I just keep on running on a torn ACL, keeping my steps VERY much inline and neutral, taping and moaning. I just run less and a bit slower. No more plyometrics, lateral movements and downhill impact. Geez, 20 years from now I'll be an artifical knee candidate, but if I've rested enough in the onset period I wouldn't have this problem now.
It is perhaps the hardest part... rest.
IN the meantime, taping is much better than pills. Ice is much better then heat (unless you have a nerve issue, but 90% of the time it's not the case). Proper conditioning and rest are key to avoiding getting here.
Still, try ice and tape before reaching for anything else. No, I'm not a doctor. Or a zombie-runner minefield-shuffler.
:)
All Natural Products - semantics
OOOOOOOOkay, so would you say that catpoop is natural? It's certainly not manufactured. Who would want to...?
So your all natural food may, technically, contain catpoop. If you are lucky. I've seen worse natural things than that. Maggots, for instance.
But that's enough grossness. Just realize that the word: natural: means just that. It does not mean that your food is wholesome and pure and clean and yummy. It means that the companies have found yet another marketing trick to get you buy their product: marketing is all this is. Not "goodness"!!!!
So your all natural food may, technically, contain catpoop. If you are lucky. I've seen worse natural things than that. Maggots, for instance.
But that's enough grossness. Just realize that the word: natural: means just that. It does not mean that your food is wholesome and pure and clean and yummy. It means that the companies have found yet another marketing trick to get you buy their product: marketing is all this is. Not "goodness"!!!!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
More secrets revealed, as NOT seen on Dr. Oz
If "Tide" is improved with baking soda and tooth paste is improved with baking soda, then why don't we just wash and brush with baking soda?
If you must moisturize your hands while you are washing dishes you are in denile. Not in Egypt. Just not very smart... Wash, THEN moisturize. I don't need my dishes glistening with lotion.
If you can lose weight by having your stomach shrank (shrunk, shrinken, effen irregular English verbs), then wouldn't it be easier to shrink your plates and bowls or tape your hands together? Just seems less invasive...
If you are unhappy, don't think the LORD has special plans for you and it all has a reason. No, you need to make a change and change is hard. So get off your ass and stop waiting for a sign (that more ()*^&%^& is on the way - for no reason). Take charge, take responsibility and stop waiting for things to HAPPEN to you. There is no script. And no, you are not getting paid for this performance, no matter how much you suffer... geez! Heaven is closer than you think, you're just refusing to get there, keeping everyone around you in HELL (and dead people rot, I'm afraid, and why would "god" collect all the weak, pitiful, useless souls anyway? We all rot, but some of us manage to bloom before that). oopos, sidetracked.
Have a lovely evening and a brand new day! Help someone and be pleasant to and patient with others. Even if they choose to "suffer" in promise of a false paycheck...geez!
If you must moisturize your hands while you are washing dishes you are in denile. Not in Egypt. Just not very smart... Wash, THEN moisturize. I don't need my dishes glistening with lotion.
If you can lose weight by having your stomach shrank (shrunk, shrinken, effen irregular English verbs), then wouldn't it be easier to shrink your plates and bowls or tape your hands together? Just seems less invasive...
If you are unhappy, don't think the LORD has special plans for you and it all has a reason. No, you need to make a change and change is hard. So get off your ass and stop waiting for a sign (that more ()*^&%^& is on the way - for no reason). Take charge, take responsibility and stop waiting for things to HAPPEN to you. There is no script. And no, you are not getting paid for this performance, no matter how much you suffer... geez! Heaven is closer than you think, you're just refusing to get there, keeping everyone around you in HELL (and dead people rot, I'm afraid, and why would "god" collect all the weak, pitiful, useless souls anyway? We all rot, but some of us manage to bloom before that). oopos, sidetracked.
Have a lovely evening and a brand new day! Help someone and be pleasant to and patient with others. Even if they choose to "suffer" in promise of a false paycheck...geez!
The secret fuel efficiency of the Prius
Its drivers drive 10 miles UNDER the speed limit, at all times.
Annoying but true... very efficient... almost beats a bycycle - morons.
Annoying but true... very efficient... almost beats a bycycle - morons.
doggie dog life
Well, good news: Shasta is not going blind
Bad news: she is going cognitively numb
In other words: her brain doesn't open the emails her eyes send. So she doesn't get the messages.
but it's ok, as she was also found with acute heart failure and kidney and bladder stones, all of which is under control now, and,if we are to believe her lovely vet with his dimples, she can live a long life with meds.
She only has to go on a diet with veggies and hardly any meat. Yeah, right...
But! I fixed that too... inquired a visiting dog, Cody, who inspires Shasta to eat everything in sight. In her blind state she managed to find Cody food bowls and left overs and she eats it all up. Today, I fed her 5 times. Out of the can and with raw, chopped up veggies. She would never have eaten that, was it not for her comeptition.
She figures (that's funny to picture - her figuring), so she figures that if his food is gone he'll be gone too and things will get back to normal. Actually, Cody is the one suffering because I'm so afraid of not balancing the attention well that I probably deprive him, not her. Never her.
In any case, life is good, the weather is ridiculously awesome, and the park is green with blue sky over it and lots of pee spots and cool breezes.
I love this life and everyone in it.
Peace!!!
and be nice to others - for no reason at all
Bad news: she is going cognitively numb
In other words: her brain doesn't open the emails her eyes send. So she doesn't get the messages.
but it's ok, as she was also found with acute heart failure and kidney and bladder stones, all of which is under control now, and,if we are to believe her lovely vet with his dimples, she can live a long life with meds.
She only has to go on a diet with veggies and hardly any meat. Yeah, right...
But! I fixed that too... inquired a visiting dog, Cody, who inspires Shasta to eat everything in sight. In her blind state she managed to find Cody food bowls and left overs and she eats it all up. Today, I fed her 5 times. Out of the can and with raw, chopped up veggies. She would never have eaten that, was it not for her comeptition.
She figures (that's funny to picture - her figuring), so she figures that if his food is gone he'll be gone too and things will get back to normal. Actually, Cody is the one suffering because I'm so afraid of not balancing the attention well that I probably deprive him, not her. Never her.
In any case, life is good, the weather is ridiculously awesome, and the park is green with blue sky over it and lots of pee spots and cool breezes.
I love this life and everyone in it.
Peace!!!
and be nice to others - for no reason at all
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