Therapeutic Taping at Boise Physical Therapy 180
Whether you are an elite athlete competing at the highest level or a weekend warrior staying active on the local trails, therapeutic taping is a fantastic tool to manage pain and support your body as you heal.
At Physical Therapy 180, we use taping as a temporary, supportive technique that offers mechanical, neuromuscular, and even psychological benefits to accelerate your recovery.
How Therapeutic Taping Aids Recovery
Taping does a lot more than just sit on the skin. Depending on how it is applied by our therapists, it can:
- Reduce Swelling & Inflammation: Gently lifts the skin to improve blood flow and lymphatic circulation.
- Support & Protect: Restricts the movement of injured joints to protect them from re-injury.
- Optimize Muscle Performance: Gently prompts weak muscles to wake up (facilitate) or overactive, cramping muscles to relax (inhibit).
- Boost Body Awareness: Provides continuous sensory feedback to improve your proprioception—your body’s natural ability to sense its movement, alignment, and position.
The Right Tape for the Right Goal
We utilize two primary types of clinical tape based on your structural needs:
- Kinesiotape (K-Tape): A thin, highly elastic tape designed to mimic the natural flexibility of your skin. It moves with you, providing light support, reducing swelling, and relieving pain while allowing full range of motion. It can comfortably stay in place for several days.
- Leukotape: A rigid, non-stretchy tape applied over a protective underwrap. We use this firmer option when a joint requires maximum stability, structural support, or a temporary limit on its movement.