Equine Kinesiology Taping

Kinesiology Taping is a technique beneficial in both sports and rehabilitative therapies.  It is designed to mimic the body's natural healing process by providing an extended soft tissue manipulation, meaning it will prolong the effect of massage as well as provide support and stability to muscles and joints without becoming restrictive.

​

Kinesiology tape was developed by Dr Kenzo Kase in the early 1970's.  Dr Kase wanted to provide a non-pharmaceutical alternative to alleviate his patients pain in between appointments.  The tape was developed to mimic the thickness, stretch and weight of the superficial skin layer allowing the tape to target different receptors in the somatosensory system whilst having minimal perception on the skin.  

​

The adhesive on the tape is formed in a wave pattern to imitate fascia which helps to lift the skin and decompress the compromised fascia at the site of injury.  The elasticity of the tape will gently cause the tissue to stretch creating a massaging and lifting effect on the subdermal and fascial layers beneath the skin.  Tiny microscopic convolutions will be found in the skin, separating the musclar and dermal layers and create 'space' and stimulate the mechanoreceptors.  The created space will allow for better blood and lymphatic circulation and therefore actively reduces pain, inflammation and swelling.

​

I have successfully applied kinesiology tape to a number of different client horses ranging from kissing spine cases to horses with painful/weak back muscles and hindquarter restrictions as well as horses with tendon/ligament injuries.  I have also used kinesiology tape on my own horse following extensive dental surgery and secondary sinusitis.  Below are a few photos of my applications.