Kinesiotaping: The Stretchy Solution for Your Aches and Pains

Imagine a world where a simple strip of tape can ease your pain, improve your movement, and help you feel better. Welcome to the world of kinesiotaping! This stretchy, breathable, and practical tape has been revolutionizing the way we treat and manage pain since the 1960s Olympics. But what exactly is kinesiotaping, and why should you consider it? Let’s dive in!



What is Kinesiotaping?

Kinesiotape is not your average roll of adhesive. This tape is thin, flexible, and mimics the elasticity of your skin, allowing for full movement and comfort. Whether you’re breaking a sweat on the track or going about your daily routine, kinesiotape is designed to stick with you. It's water and sweat-resistant, ensuring that it stays put through your toughest workouts and longest days.


What Does Kinesiotaping Do?

Kinesiotaping is more than just a sticky strip. Here are some of the key benefits:

  • Muscle Activation and Support: It provides gentle support and activation to your muscles, helping them contract and function more efficiently.
  • Joint Support: The tape offers additional support to your joints, stabilizing them without restricting your range of motion.
  • Improved Blood Flow and Reduced Swelling: By lifting the skin slightly, kinesiotape enhances blood circulation and reduces swelling, making it ideal for managing inflammation and lymphedema.
  • Bruise and Contusion Healing: As mentioned, the tape allows for better blood flow and bringing in new oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood to the area of a bruise speeds up recovery.
  • Pain Relief: It’s a great tool for alleviating pain from various conditions, including post-surgery discomfort.
  • Inflammation Relief: For those battling arthritic inflammation, kinesiotape can provide much-needed relief by reducing pressure and allowing for better fluid drainage.


How Does It Work?

The magic of kinesiotape lies in its stretchiness. When applied correctly, it interacts with your skin and the underlying nerves. This interaction signals your muscles to activate and contract, promoting movement, maintaining posture, and stabilizing joints.

For swelling and lymphedema, kinesiotape works by gently lifting the skin, creating space underneath that allows fluids to flow more freely. This reduces pressure and swelling, providing relief and enhancing mobility.

But be warned, sensitive skin types might experience some irritation. The tape can stay on for several days to weeks, depending on the brand, and removing it requires soaking it in water and applying a bit of oil to gently peel it off.


Who Should Use Kinesiotaping?

Kinesiotaping isn't just for athletes, although they certainly benefit from its use. It’s also highly effective for individuals with chronic conditions like arthritis, those recovering from surgery, and anyone looking for a non-invasive way to manage pain and support their muscles and joints.


Why See a Chiropractor for Kinesiotaping?

While DIY kinesiotaping is possible, having it applied by a professional ensures you reap the maximum benefits. We have chiropractors who are trained in the application of kinesiotape and can tailor its use to your specific needs. Whether you’re dealing with a sports injury, chronic pain, or post-surgical recovery, our chiropractors can assess your condition and apply the tape in a way that optimizes support and relief.


At our Buffalo chiropractic and massage office, we’re all about healing. Kinesiotaping is just one of the many tools we use to help you feel your best. So why not give it a try? Come in for a consultation and let us show you how a little tape can make a big difference.


Remember, the next time you see someone sporting that stretchy tape, know that they’re not just making a fashion statement—they’re on the fast track to recovery and better performance!


Bethany Wolcott

D’Youville Chiropractic ‘26

Debunking Myths: Common Misconceptions About Chiropractic Care

By S21 GMB • August 4, 2025
Chiropractic care is often surrounded by myths and misconceptions, some of which may lead people to shy away from seeking care or fully understanding its benefits. From concerns about safety to doubts about its effectiveness, many misconceptions persist about chiropractic care. However, as the field of chiropractic continues to grow, research and evidence-based practices help to dispel these myths. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most common misconceptions about chiropractic care, and provide evidence to clarify the truths behind them.

Roll With It: A 10-Minute Full-Body Foam Rolling Routine That Your Muscles Will Thank You For

By S21 GMB • July 28, 2025
Whether you’re an elite athlete, a casual competitor, or someone who sits at a desk all day, foam rolling is a simple, effective way to show your muscles some love. It's like giving your body a do-it-yourself massage—no appointment necessary. In just ten minutes a day, you can reduce muscle tension, improve flexibility, and help your body recover faster. At Peak Performance, we often recommend foam rolling to our patients as part of their home care, especially when paired with regular chiropractic and massage therapy. Here's everything you need to know to start rolling your way to a healthier, happier body.

IT Band Syndrome: Why Your Outer Knee Hates You (And What to Do About It)

By S21 GMB • July 21, 2025
If you’ve ever trained for a marathon, ramped up your squat routine, or taken your weekend hikes a little too seriously, chances are you’ve had a run-in with IT Band Syndrome. That nagging pain on the outside of your knee that shows up halfway through your run and sticks around longer than you'd like? That’s your iliotibial (IT) band screaming for help. At our chiropractic and massage office here in Buffalo, NY, we see this common overuse injury all the time—especially among runners, cyclists, lifters, and anyone who moves with purpose. The good news? IT Band Syndrome is treatable, manageable, and preventable. You just need the right game plan—and maybe a chiropractor and massage therapist in your corner.

Kanjo, Acupressure, Wellness

By Sahil's Development Team • July 14, 2025
The Point of Relief: Acupressure Made Easy with Kanjo

Stars, Stripes, and Spines: Why Your Back Goes Pop (and How to Watch Fireworks Without Wrecking It)

By S21 GMB • July 3, 2025
Cue the barbecue, spark up the sparklers, and grab your favorite red, white, and blue—because the Fourth of July is here! As we ooh and aah over fireworks lighting up the night sky, there’s another kind of pop that gets people buzzing this time of year: the satisfying crack that happens during a chiropractic adjustment. Coincidence? Maybe. But if you’ve ever wondered why your back makes that signature sound when adjusted, we’ve got the answers—and some safety tips to make sure your spine is celebrating right alongside you this Independence Day.

Safely Enjoying the Beach This Summer

By S21 GMB • June 30, 2025
The beach is a perfect place to relax, soak up the sun, and enjoy a variety of fun activities like swimming, volleyball, and surfing. However, while it offers an ideal setting for leisure and recreation, it also presents certain risks that can impact your health and well-being. From sunburns to dehydration and slips and falls, understanding how to enjoy the beach safely will help ensure you make the most of your time by the water. Here’s how you can stay safe and healthy while soaking in the sun and fun this summer.

The Long and Short of It: Understanding Leg Length Discrepancies

By S21 GMB • June 23, 2025
When your pants always seem uneven or one shoe wears out faster than the other, it might not be your laundry or the way you walk — it could be a leg length discrepancy. But before you panic or break out the measuring tape, let’s break down what this actually means and how chiropractic and massage therapy can help even things out (literally and figuratively). There are two main types of leg length discrepancies: anatomical and functional . While they may present similarly — hip imbalances, lower back pain, uneven walking patterns — their root causes (and therefore their treatments) are very different. Let’s dive into the difference between the two, how we diagnose them, and how your friendly neighborhood chiropractor or massage therapist can help.

Runner’s Knee: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Keep On Running

By Sahil's Development Team • June 16, 2025
If you’ve ever gone for a run and come home with an achy, nagging pain around your knee, you might have experienced the all-too-common condition known as Runner’s Knee. But don’t let the name fool you — you don’t have to be a marathoner to be affected. Runner’s Knee can strike casual joggers, weekend warriors, or even people who rarely run but take a long walk or hike.  At Peak Performance, we see lots of patients who are sidelined by this pesky knee pain. The good news? It’s treatable, manageable, and very often preventable. Let’s dive into what Runner’s Knee actually is, how it occurs, how to treat it, and how to keep it from coming back.

Meet Your Nervous System

By S21 GMB • June 9, 2025
Before we talk about how massage affects the nervous system, it helps to understand what the nervous system is and what it does.

Integrating Chiropractic Care into Pediatric Health

By S21 GMB • June 2, 2025
Children are constantly growing, learning, and exploring the world around them. From their first steps to their time spent in school and on the playground, their bodies undergo continuous physical stress and development. While pediatric health often focuses on nutrition, vaccinations, and regular checkups, spinal health is sometimes overlooked. Chiropractic care offers a safe, effective way to support proper growth, posture, and overall well-being in children.
Show More