I wanted to share with you a quick and easy way that I use kinesiology tape for patients with knee pain.
Many knee taping techniques use multiple strips of tape (usually of different lengths) and take time to prep & put on and are hard for patients to replicate.
This technique, however, uses only 1 piece of tape (so it uses less tape) and can be cut & applied in less than a minute by you or someone else. This isn’t the only technique I use for knee pain, but it is by far the most common one I use and the first one I try out.
I learned this technique from Dr. Perry Nickelston at a Rocktape course and he calls this technique the “Smash and Grab.” I try it on patients with any type of knee pain (patellofemoral pain, patella tendinitis, general/vague knee pain, post-surgical pain, etc.) and/or ROM limitations – it really is that versatile.
I especially like it because it’s easy for patients to apply themselves. It works by providing a constant novel feedback to the brain via stimulating the skin mechanoreceptors (thus reducing the perception of threat) and sometimes this is all a patient needs to feel/move better.
I use Rocktape kinesiology tape as I think it is the best tape on the market right now. Here’s a video that shows you how to apply this technique to yourself:
Patients (and sometimes myself) are amazed at how this simple technique helps reduce their pain and/or move better. If you have knee pain, why not give it a shot!