Kinesio Taping and Nerves

[SueMcK]

My question is related to physical therapy after my ulnar nerve surgery as described in the "Ulnar nerve - trying to understand" thread. My hand therapist used Kinesio Taping over my elbow scar and also on my hand - palm and other side. Is there someone here who understands the effect of Kinesio Tape? My neurosurgeon felt that taping on top of the palm and over the wrist was putting pressure on my ulnar nerve in the Guyon's Canal area. Everything my hand therapist has told me about kinesio tape says it relieves pressure, not applies it. Kinesio tape is not well understood by a lot of people so if anyone here knows the answer to my question or can direct me to where I might get perspective on this issue, I would appreciate it. I'm following the neurosurgeon's advice and stopping the taping, but I'm curious about it. Thank you.

[nide44]

Sorry, this is the first I've ever heard of it.
Have you 'googled' it?

[SueMcK]

Yes, I have googled it. The only discussion I can find is on a forum for professional therapists. I want to ask a question so I cannot do so. I even asked my own therapist to pose a question somewhere and she said she didn't know where she could do that, and that every therapist she works with agrees that kinesio tape would not be pressing on anything.

Thanks.

[mrsdoubtfyre]

I am considering this/or a modification of this idea myself.

Last year I started wearing leg warmers when the cold weather arrived.
They really helped me...esp my feet at night.

So then I read a very interesting post at Parkinson's before the summer
about banding a muscle to help tremors. Some of the posters here at that forum found that a simple band around a problem area, helped with movement.

I think this concept helps with sensations, because it stimulates other nerves that take over the pain paths. Not unlike what menthol does chemically, to stop the burning sensations.

So I am open to this concept. And will look into it soon, actually as soon as I get a few days off! Lately my life has been more hectic than I would like ;)

I think this is a fascinating idea.

[dahlek]

Can't recall where tho...will check it out and be back tomorrow about that, promise! Maybe in relation to a different derivation of the word itself...humm.

Ahh, Mrs D, Don't know about you, but I am soo glad leg warmers are back 'IN' this year. Finding them last year was a snipe hunt.

As for 'wrapping' - look into Vet-wrap [3M] or the like at pet supply sites, 1/2 the price of 'people' wraps [3M] and comes in lots of colors. It's great if it doesn't have to be sterile as for open wounds. I've used it for wrist, knee, ankle and foot sprains. Just be sure to get the 4" width as it's less likely to wrinkle or bind in the wrapping or wrinkling while you use that affected part.
PetSmart or Petco has it readily, but it's much cheaper mail-order if you get a dozen rolls or more...just watch out for the S&H.

Hope this helps! - j

[dahlek]

Kinesiology is the STUDY of movement in relation to healing malfunctioning muscles. [That's my take of it]

I don't think I would do the taping unless I severely needed some support. Any wrappings or bandages have to be carefully done or more damage can happen. I'm more an advocate of learning exercises that can be SAFELY done at home using a minimum of extra equipment to work up to better strength.

So a GOOD therapist should help you build up strength gently as well as keeping mobility and flexibility without damaging any healing tissue. Simply if it doesn't feel RIGHT speak up and find alternative exercises.

Hope this helps! - j

[mrsdoubtfyre]

But I did find a pair at Target's this season. Last year I got some at Kohl's.
But they have like 4 pair for the whole neighborhood..if you don't go early, they will be gone!

The concept of banding that I read on PD here, was not a tight wrap. Just enough to touch the skin.

My leg warmers usually fall down to my ankles, and don't warm much. But their presence does "something" to my feet. Also I wear a "legging type" long pant in winter, that hugs the legs, and these help too.

I only wear the leg warmers around the house and to bed. I wear long pants to bed too.(a sort of leisure wear PJ).;)

[rose]

Tights or hose helping with proprioception. Again, not something wrapped tightly, but just the fact that it touches.

Gotta get some tights again.

rose

[SueMcK]

From Dahlek: "Kinesiology is the STUDY of movement in relation to healing malfunctioning muscles. [That's my take of it] I don't think I would do the taping unless I severely needed some support. Any wrappings or bandages have to be carefully done or more damage can happen. I'm more an advocate of learning exercises that can be SAFELY done at home using a minimum of extra equipment to work up to better strength. So a GOOD therapist should help you build up strength gently as well as keeping mobility and flexibility without damaging any healing tissue. Simply if it doesn't feel RIGHT speak up and find alternative exercises. Hope this helps!"

Thank you so much!!! Even though my therapist is well-intentioned, I'm glad my neuro-surgeon caught this and that I've stopped wearing the tape. When I pulled off the tape, I noticed the color of my palm was paler than my other hand, which was not taped. It has improved since stopping the tape.

[mrsdoubtfyre]

necessarily a sign of something bad. Whenever you tape the skin, it holds
moisture and turns a lighter color. After removing patches, this is a typical
response.

[SueMcK]

Mrs. D,

Thank you - that's good to know about the skin color. As you can see, I don't really know anything for sure. I talked last night with one of the distributors of Kinesiotape and he said one of the problems with it is there is very little research documented, mainly because no one wants to spend the money to do it. I'm trying to reach Ruth Coopee, who is an authority on kinesiotaping with my question about taping over the wrist and palm but it is a holiday soon. If I find out anything, I'll report back.

[lucidmaster]

I had a submuscular ulnar nerve transposition 9 weeks ago (see my other post on this forum). At week 7, my therapist put kino tape over the 20 cm scar on my elbow, directly above the incision sight. It is supposed to keep the skin and some connective tissues under it from sticking to the scar tissue that is forming below the incision and around reattached the tendon. The tape is applied in slight tension, so it grabs and pulls the skin over whatever is below when you move your elbow. However, in my case, it ended up irritating the newly "moved" ulnar nerve, and I was getting slight burning sensations around my 5th finger and the inside of my palm, which all went away when I made the connection and removed the tape.

[SueMcK]

lucidmaster,

Thank you for relaying your experience. I have had some improvement (less numbness) since I quit using the kinesio tape. There is very little research about what the tape actually does, so I think it is best to be cautious with the use of it around nerves. I think originally it was designed to be used on muscles.

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Tataya

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　　　　　　　　　　2008-06-25