Taping is used broadly in the therapy and sports world. As of recent, bright colors and on-site physical therapy at sporting events has allowed for the public to become more aware of the options from seeing athletes donned in tape on television and in media photos.

• Provide security for the athlete returning to activity
• Realign bones, help until ligament is scarred or repaired
• Provide stability and "guidelines" for joint motion that is allowed and discouraged
• Activate certain muscle groups
• Assist in deactivating overactive muscles
• Calm down fascial and nerve pain

• If used too much, the proprioceptive (or knowing where your body is in space and motion) system can begin to rely on the tape and become "lazy" with activation.
• If used too tightly, can inhibit muscle use and blood flow.
• Is often used to "mask" symptoms to push through one more game, tournament, meet or match.
• Can be used inappropriately when the underlying problem is not fixed.
• Should never be done without coordinated Physical Therapy for strengthening, balance work, and joint health assessment.

• General Athletic Taping
• Used, as an example, for ankle sprains, wrist pain, etc.
• Traditionally pre-wrap, white tape
• Strapping
• Can be used with traditional taping, but with extra focus on supporting certain ligaments, or preventing specific joint motion from occurring
• McConnel
• Used to place joint (such as the patella/knee cap) in positions, to encourage muscle activation to keep it there
• Helpful in breaking bad patterns
• Allows body to go through strength and motion that otherwise would be painful, to allow earlier strengthening
• Kinesiotaping/SpiderTech
• Examples are the bright colored ”strips” and patterns that you see on athletes in practice and competition
• Goal is to take tension off of certain areas, allow improved blood and lymph flow, discourage fascial tightness from building or occurring
• Also is used in recovery for drainage and lymphatic flow issues

Location(s): Burr Ridge, Naperville