FAQ

What is Kinesio® Tape made from?
Kinesio® Tex Tape (full name) is made from a very thin, breathable, water resistant, 100% cotton fabric.

It has a medical grade heat-activated adhesive and is non-medicated and latex free – making it very skin friendly.

It is designed to mimic skin and has maximum stretch, recoil and thickness properties almost identical to human skin.

What is the difference between “Kinesio Tape” and the “Kinesio Taping Method”?
When Dr Kenzo Kase started developing what is now known as the Kinesio® Taping Method, he used tapes and other products that were available at the time – however he could not generate the results that he was seeking.

It wasn’t until Kinesio® Tex tape was designed that the full benefits of this form of elastic therapeutic taping were unlocked.

Individually, one is just a stretchy tape and the other is just an idea, but together the exclusive properties of Kinesio® Tex tape along with the education behind the Kinesio® Taping Method combine to provide therapists with a systematic process to achieve results for their clients.

What makes Kinesio® Tape different to other elastic tapes?
In general, all stretchy tapes are just, well, stretchy tapes. But just like not all cars are equal, the same applies to Elastic Therapeutic tapes.

Firstly, there are specific quality issues that differentiate Kinesio® Tape from the recent influx of generics. Things like high thread count in the cotton weave for durability, hypoallergenic adhesive to make it more tolerable on the skin, breath-ability for longer wear times, and a manufacturing process that ensures each batch of tape behaves exactly the same way as the one before it.

Of course, having been in the game longer than any of the other generics means that Kinesio® Tape has been able to upgrade and improve as new information and technology comes to hand. So even though it is as strong and durable as ever, it is thinner, lighter and less noticeable on the skin. Recent advances in manufacturing technology have led to the new Kinesio® Tex fP or “fingerprint” glue pattern which allows for less glue to be used whilst providing even stronger adhesion so your Kinesio Taping application lasts longer.

But all of this wouldn’t mean much if it didn’t actually work – and this is where Kinesio® Tape really shines. Due to it’s specific stretch and recoil properties that are completely different to all of the other generics, it is the only tape that is guaranteed to work with the Kinesio® Taping Method and achieve the clinical results that therapists require for their clients.

What is the difference between the colours?
(pink, blue, black, beige, white)
Short answer: Nothing, it’s just a different colour dye used in the manufacturing process.

Longer answer: There is no difference in the stretch or recoil between the colours. Every roll of Kinesio® Tape will behave exactly as you expect it to. However, there are many people for whom colour association plays an important part in rehabilitation. It might be a sports person who has a superstition about wearing black on game day or someone who finds pink has a calming influence from a childhood memory.

For these people, colour contributes greatly to their state of mind.

For the rest of us – well we can just pick our favourite colour!

How long can Kinesio® Tape be worn for?
Kinesio® Tex Tape is designed to be worn for up to 5 days. It is breathable which means that the skin underneath does not deteriorate. It can also be worn whilst showering or swimming – just dab dry with your towel afterwards. If you need it for less than 5 days, take it off when you need to.

What is the best way to remove a Kinesio® Taping application?
Try to avoid the “just rip it off quickly and get it over with” approach as you will likely aggravate the surface of the skin and leave nice red marks behind.

Instead, have a look at this video of Instructor Thuy (Twee) Bridges demonstrating the “Tap Away”, the “Roll off” and the “Pressure Method” options of removal.

Can Kinesio® Tape be used with other therapies?
Absolutely!

The Kinesio® Taping Method is designed to be an extra tool in your clinical toolkit. If you buy a nice new chisel set, you still keep your existing hammer and saw for the tasks that they work well on.

Similarly, there is still a place for other modalities such as rigid taping, acupuncture and good old-fashioned manual therapy. But what Kinesio® does is offer a great option that can fast-track a client’s rehabilitation or provide them with the sensory input they need to cue the correct muscle activations.

Can I use Kinesio® Tape on children?
There are are number of very useful applications for children – even babies where it is clinically appropriate. However, it is very important that any Kinesio Taping applications are only done under the direct guidance of a properly trained practitioner. An incorrect application might be uncomfortable on an adult, but they can let you know about it – a child may not be able to.

Do I need training in order to use Kinesio® Tape?
Short Answer: Yes.
Longer Answer: As with many things in life, you are more effective if you learn how to do something rather than attempting trial and error.

Just like driving a car or growing crops on a farm you will obtain better results with Kinesio® Tape if you understand how it works.
The Kinesio® Taping Method is not about “stretching it a bit and sticking it on” – there are specific tension ranges along with assessment protocols that mean if you know what you are doing then you expect a result each and every time you use it.

I’m not a therapist – can I still do a course?
Absolutely! There are no restrictions on who can attend an internationally accredited Kinesio® Taping course.

However…… we hate to see people waste their money and so suggest that if you have a reasonable knowledge of the body’s anatomy (muscle systems, attachments, actions etc) then you will be fine. If you’re unsure, please contact us and we can chat with you about what’s involved.

Where can I find an accredited Kinesio® Taping course
In Australia – right here.

Kinesio Australia is authorised by the Kinesio® Taping Association International (KTAI) to coordinate all official courses, lectures, conference sessions etc in Australia. If you hear about some Kinesio education and are not sure if it’s legitimate then please contact us and we’ll be happy to verify it for you.

So, are some courses not “official”? What does this mean?
Unfortunately there are some ethically challenged people who use the Kinesio name to promote their own workshops.

Aside from the legal issue relating to intellectual property and trademark infringement, these people are also providing inadequate education which is not recognised through the Kinesio Taping Association International.

The workshops are invariably conducted by someone who is not an Accredited Instructor, are typically using out-of-date information and are usually more about selling products rather than educating for clinically relevant results.

How do I become a Certified Kinesio® Taping Practitioner (CKTP)
Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioners must fulfill specific training criteria set by the Kinesio® Taping Association International (KTAI).

This includes attendance at an accredited KT1-2 and KT3 course (either in Australia or anywhere else in the world that accredited courses are held), taking and passing an exam at the completion of the KT3 course and maintaining ongoing training as a member of the KTAI.