You have probably seen many tennis players or other athletes with those beautifully colored tapes – bright blue, bright pink, black – all over the bodies in any possible visual formation. Besides looking cool, what does it do? This technique is called “kinesio taping”. The idea comes from the kinesiology science (therefore the name “kinesio”) and is based on the body’s own natural healing system. Active muscles are constantly contracting and extending in a normal range of motion. If you over-extend the muscles, they won’t be able to recover completely and become inflamed, swollen or stiff from the fatigue. In such overused muscle the space between the muscle and skin is compressed, restricting the flow of lymphatic fluids, and putting pressure on the pain receptors under the skin. The receptors send signals of discomfort to the brain and we feel the famous feeling of muscular pain.
