Elastic tape made famous at ’08 Games is easing pain for Toledo area patients as well
Published: 2009-10-11 22:39:46
Author: JULIE M. McKINNON | Toledo Blade | September 28, 2009
With the state tennis tournament approaching, Lana Sweeney needed relief for her foot pain.
But when Ms. Sweeney’s massage therapist suggested the 40-year-old Toledo woman visit a chiropractor who uses an elastic athletic tape from Japan to treat patients, she doubted it would help. After all, Ms. Sweeney previously was told only surgery or cortisone shots would alleviate her pain from plantar fasciitis, an inflammatory condition.
Not only was Ms. Sweeney wrong about Kinesio Tex Tape’s benefits, she lost a bet with Dr. Bryan Royer, a Sylvania Township chiropractor who started using it about five years ago.
Then again, although Ms. Sweeney owed Dr. Royer lunch after losing that bet, her USTA 4.0 team from Perrysburg Tennis Center took second place in the state competition last month.
“I’ve become a believer, reluctantly, yeah, but a believer,” Ms. Sweeney said recently before Dr. Royer applied tape, which withstands bathing and stays intact a few days.
“It helps me get out of bed without crippling along for 20 minutes,” she added.
Kinesio tape gained fame during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, when American gold medalist beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh used it on her shoulder. It also has been spotted on other elite athletes, including Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, and David Beckham.
Still, professional and amateur athletes are not the only ones benefitting from Kinesio tape, said Dr. Royer and Wendy Harlett, a physical therapist from Heartland Rehabilitation in Perrysburg who also treats patients with it.
After Joani Donovan of Holland “became a klutz” and fell a few months ago, hurting her knee, wrist, and neck, the massage therapist sought treatment from Dr. Royer.
Kinesio tape helped with pain and range of motion, Ms. Donovan said.
“It gave me the strength to keep going when I was working,” said the 47-year-old. “It’s just amazing.”
Pain in shoulders and lower backs also can be relieved by Kinesio tape, Dr. Royer said. Unlike traditional athletic tape, which is not as flexible, Kinesio tape when applied correctly assists and supports muscles without inhibiting a joint’s range of motion, he said.
“It is really, really versatile in all the things it can do,” Dr. Royer said.
Developed more than 35 years ago by a chiropractor in Japan, Kinesio tape was introduced to the United States about a decade ago, said Mike McDuffie, marketing coordinator for Kinisio Holding Corp. in Albuquerque.
Physical and occupational therapists are the largest U.S. users of Kinesio tape, followed by chiropractors, Mr. McDuffie said.
Athletic trainers only account for 15 percent to 20 percent of sales, although donating 50,000 rolls of tape for use during the Beijing Olympics is what got Kinesio noticed, he said.
“Obviously, the Olympics got us a lot of coverage and really opened the door,” Mr. McDuffie said.
Dr. Royer, however, first learned how to use Kinesio tape while a chiropractic student at National University of Health Sciences in Illinois.
Kinesio tape relieves pain in muscles and corrects misalignment of joints, Dr. Royer said. It also increases circulation by lifting skin, which helps with bruising and lymphatic flow, he said.
Full story
Published: 2009-10-11 22:39:46
Author: JULIE M. McKINNON | Toledo Blade | September 28, 2009
With the state tennis tournament approaching, Lana Sweeney needed relief for her foot pain.
But when Ms. Sweeney’s massage therapist suggested the 40-year-old Toledo woman visit a chiropractor who uses an elastic athletic tape from Japan to treat patients, she doubted it would help. After all, Ms. Sweeney previously was told only surgery or cortisone shots would alleviate her pain from plantar fasciitis, an inflammatory condition.
Not only was Ms. Sweeney wrong about Kinesio Tex Tape’s benefits, she lost a bet with Dr. Bryan Royer, a Sylvania Township chiropractor who started using it about five years ago.
Then again, although Ms. Sweeney owed Dr. Royer lunch after losing that bet, her USTA 4.0 team from Perrysburg Tennis Center took second place in the state competition last month.
“I’ve become a believer, reluctantly, yeah, but a believer,” Ms. Sweeney said recently before Dr. Royer applied tape, which withstands bathing and stays intact a few days.
“It helps me get out of bed without crippling along for 20 minutes,” she added.
Kinesio tape gained fame during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, when American gold medalist beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh used it on her shoulder. It also has been spotted on other elite athletes, including Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, and David Beckham.
Still, professional and amateur athletes are not the only ones benefitting from Kinesio tape, said Dr. Royer and Wendy Harlett, a physical therapist from Heartland Rehabilitation in Perrysburg who also treats patients with it.
After Joani Donovan of Holland “became a klutz” and fell a few months ago, hurting her knee, wrist, and neck, the massage therapist sought treatment from Dr. Royer.
Kinesio tape helped with pain and range of motion, Ms. Donovan said.
“It gave me the strength to keep going when I was working,” said the 47-year-old. “It’s just amazing.”
Pain in shoulders and lower backs also can be relieved by Kinesio tape, Dr. Royer said. Unlike traditional athletic tape, which is not as flexible, Kinesio tape when applied correctly assists and supports muscles without inhibiting a joint’s range of motion, he said.
“It is really, really versatile in all the things it can do,” Dr. Royer said.
Developed more than 35 years ago by a chiropractor in Japan, Kinesio tape was introduced to the United States about a decade ago, said Mike McDuffie, marketing coordinator for Kinisio Holding Corp. in Albuquerque.
Physical and occupational therapists are the largest U.S. users of Kinesio tape, followed by chiropractors, Mr. McDuffie said.
Athletic trainers only account for 15 percent to 20 percent of sales, although donating 50,000 rolls of tape for use during the Beijing Olympics is what got Kinesio noticed, he said.
“Obviously, the Olympics got us a lot of coverage and really opened the door,” Mr. McDuffie said.
Dr. Royer, however, first learned how to use Kinesio tape while a chiropractic student at National University of Health Sciences in Illinois.
Kinesio tape relieves pain in muscles and corrects misalignment of joints, Dr. Royer said. It also increases circulation by lifting skin, which helps with bruising and lymphatic flow, he said.
Full story