Perhaps you don’t know its official name, but I guarantee you have seen it before. Say you’re watching your favorite sports player, and you see that goofy looking tape on their body. You wonder, "What is that and why on God’s green Earth is he wearing it?" Well, what that silly-looking tape is called Kinesio Tape, and actually has some strong benefits. I have been using Kinesio Tape for a few years now. I generally have it applied the morning of a large tournament, or right before I head out of town for a tournament. I have my Chiropractor, Dr. Lance Hauser who owns Hauser Chiropractic and Acupuncture, apply it for me. I recently stopped by Lance’s office and asked him a few simple questions to which I could relay to you all here in my blog. Here is what we discussed – What exactly is Kinesio Tape? – “Kinesio Tape is a special elastic tape that is designed to help the body's healing process by slightly lifting the skin to reduce inflammation and increase lymphatic drainage.” Why would it be beneficial? - “When used with a specific taping technique, it helps support the body's muscles and joints without restricting range of motion.” What does it help with specifically? – “The specific application of the tape helps re-educate the neuromuscular system, reduce pain and inflammation, enhance performance, prevent injury and promote good circulation and healing.” Who would it be beneficial for? – “It can be used on any population from infants to seniors, even animals. It can be used on any musculoskeletal injury. We use it in our clinic for both acute and chronic conditions ranging from neck/low back pain, rotator cuff injuries, even plantar fasciitis. Evaluation and assessment are key in the treatment of any clinical condition, so it's important to have a professional look at it. In some cases, the treatment of a condition may require treatment of other underlying conditions as well.” Lance also added that the tape needs to be applied in a specific manner, so having someone who knows how to proper apply and treat the condition is crucial. So, there you have it. That silly tape you see all the time, it actually serves a purpose. I would suggest checking it out for yourself. I use it, and I love it. If you have any questions about this, please don't hesitate to ask me!