On the back of the thigh there is a group of powerful muscles (harmstring) that cover the back of the thigh from the buttocks to the calves and are involved in knee flexion and hip extension. When the muscles or tendons of these muscles are damaged, you may experience both pain and stiffness or cramps. Microtraumas in muscles and tendons heal slowly and, in the absence of adequate treatment, repeated damage to these structures occurs. One of the most effective treatment methods is taping the back of the thigh, which can reduce excess stress.
Harmstring stretching
Harmstring strains most often occur in active people, and the incidence increases with age. Sprains are usually associated not with contact, but with a sharp change in speed and direction. Potential causes of harmstring damage include lack of physical fitness, muscle fatigue, and returning to physical activity before full recovery from a previous injury.
In less severe cases, damage to the harmstring is microscopic. The muscle fibers stretch too much and this leads to microhemorrhages. Severe harmstring injuries may cause muscle or tendon rupture, which may require surgery to repair the torn ends of the muscle. The pain can range from aching to severe and sharp.
The action of the method and the essence of the process
The natural cotton patch contains warming substances that begin to affect the muscles upon contact with them (from human heat).
Warming up a certain part of the musculoskeletal system allows you to:
- relieve swelling of the area;
- improve blood circulation and lymph exchange;
- reduce inflammation;
- reduce pain from stress, injury, arthritis;
- support the joint (damaged, with weak ligaments);
- protect from joint injury (mechanical impact, dislocation);
- relax or tense the muscles (depending on the method of application);
- correct posture;
- minimize the manifestations of flat feet in children;
- develop muscles after injuries, or long-term treatment;
- relieve headaches and menstrual pain;
- indicated for rehabilitation from cerebral palsy.
You can apply adhesive tape to any part of the body, but follow the application rules and clearly understand what function the tape will perform.
The preparatory part before applying the tape includes:
- complete shaving of hair on the surface where the tape will be located;
- degreasing the skin with alcohol or another product;
- The tape is applied 30 minutes before active physical activity;
- The patch is activated by rubbing it with your hand from above.
You should not use additional pain-relieving creams, as they may peel off the patch. The exception is branded gels from RockTape. Applying medicinal mixtures to areas of the skin without a patch is acceptable, but it is worth taking into account the properties of the products and their compatibility with the therapeutic effect of the tape.
The use of the patch by children can be problematic due to the moment of peeling off: the patch is steamed and removed along the hairline, and not against it.
Kinesio tapes differ from each other not only in color, presence or absence of a pattern, but also in the amount of active glue and ductility, which should be taken into account when purchasing.
Traditional medicine uses kinesio tape not only for the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries, but also for the treatment of chronic conditions. We are talking, in particular, about arthritis, destruction of cartilage tissue and varicose veins. It is appropriate to use kinesio tape for pregnant women or those who have just given birth to fix the ankle and knee, since the ligaments weaken greatly during pregnancy and experience additional stress. The patch can also be worn as a spot (pasted in the shape of a snowflake) for lower back pain, damaged discs, frequent neuralgia, and poor posture.
Harmstring stretch levels
- Grade 1: The patient experiences mild discomfort, often without limitation of activity.
- Grade 2: There is moderate discomfort and may limit the ability to perform activities such as jumping or running. There may be swelling and bruising.
- Grade 3: Severe injuries accompanied by pain when walking. Symptoms such as swelling, muscle spasms and significant bruising are common.
The use of taping is indicated for grade 1 and 2 sprains. With a grade 3 sprain, a full examination and treatment in medical institutions is necessary.
Choosing the right material
When buying tapes, it is important to pay attention to the following points:
- Best before date. Conscientious manufacturers always indicate it on the packaging;
- High-quality composition of material and glue. Also indicated on the packaging. It is noted as a percentage of the materials used (cotton, silk, nylon). The higher the nylon content, the stiffer the tape - such tapes should not be chosen for daily wear, they are more suitable for correction and rehabilitation;
- The presence of a paper backing that hides the adhesive layer with the name and logo of the manufacturer printed on it;
- The tightness of the packaging and the presence of quality marks and basic information about the product on it.
Ribbons can be solid flesh or bright colors, with or without prints. It is important to consider that you need to wear the application for 5-7 days. When choosing the color of tapes, do not forget that you may have to wear them to the office.
The classic option is 5 cm wide ribbons, which are suitable for most applications. The products are made from hypoallergenic cotton or artificial silk. You can buy tapes in rolls or pre-cut form. Pre-cut products are more convenient to use, while rolled products are more economically profitable.
Based on their shape, kinesio tapes are divided into:
- I-shaped. Traditional option, suitable for any applications;
- Y- and V-shaped. Placed around the boundaries of a muscle or joint to provide optimal support.
The choice of tape must take into account the pattern according to which the taping will be performed. Most often, I-shaped patches or I and Y-shaped tapes are purchased for combined use. The most popular are tapes in rolls 5 cm wide and 5 m long.
When is it possible to use taping on the back of the thigh?
Taping reduces pain, inflammation and spasms in the Harmstring muscles. Taping allows the following:
- Reduce pain from acute or chronic harmstring injuries
- Reduces swelling and bruising from injury
- Relieves excessive stress on the hip extensors
- Provides protection during treatment for injury
- Improves strength and contractility of injured muscles
- Supports injured tendons without limiting range of motion
- Improves strength in weak muscles
- Accelerates recovery and returns to activity after surgery
Taping helps with the following conditions:
- hamstring tendonitis
- Harmstring tear or rupture
- enthesopathy
- cramps or spasms
- pain or stiffness
- tendinopathy
Applying tapes
Depending on the purpose being pursued, there are several options for applying the patch:
Muscle version. Apply to a stretched muscle. The patch is stretched by 45-60%, but the ends (5 cm) are attached without tension. The direction sets the purpose of taping: for relaxation, or additional stress.
- Connective method. The tape is applied in a stretched state of 30-40%, the base is fixed on the sides without tension.
- Corrective method. The tension force of the tape is 80−90%. Placed over the ligaments. The ends are fixed without tension.
- Lymphatic option. The tape is cut into strips or made into a mesh. Apply without tension along the lymph outflow lines.
It is acceptable to cut the tape into strips, make longitudinal holes in it, give it a fork-shaped shape, and lay several balls on top of each other.
Preparation for the procedure
The period during which the patch will retain its performance characteristics will depend on how correctly the process is performed. Rushing will lead to unnecessary expenses: the damaged tape will have to be disposed of ahead of time. Tips for applying applique:
- Dry the skin. Water will prevent the sticky layer from ensuring adhesion to the epidermis. You can wipe the desired area with a dry towel and wait 5 minutes for the liquid molecules to completely evaporate.
- Degrease the thigh. Special lotions have been developed for this, but any liquid with a high alcohol content can be used. Just not cologne. It contains fragrances and other chemical components.
- Remove hair. If you do not shave off the protruding hairs, peeling off the tape will be painful. A regular razor will do. Even a hair clipper will help in emergencies.
- Activate the patch. The glue begins to act at its maximum when heated. It is enough to quickly run your hand along the tape 8-10 times and the polymerization process will begin in the sticky layer.
You need to remember the tension percentage. If the scheme provides for 40%, then with a lower value taping will not have the desired effect.
Expert opinion
Cosmetologists generally speak positively about taping. According to experts, this is a safe, effective technique that triggers natural processes of weight loss, body and face rejuvenation. The method is not traumatic, it acts without skin irritation or damage to muscle fibers.
The main thing is to apply the patches to the body correctly. To do this, it is better to undergo the first few manipulations under the supervision of a cosmetologist, only then glue the tapes yourself, at home. Doctors also advise paying attention to the price of products. It's not worth saving, since cheap patches are often treated with low-quality glue, which can provoke a severe allergic reaction.
You won’t be able to lose weight or even out your skin using tapes alone, especially with severe lipodystrophy. To eliminate cellulite, an integrated approach is required, which includes proper nutrition, exercise, normalization of the drinking regime, and cosmetic procedures.
Reviews
Girls who have used this method of fighting cellulite speak of it as truly effective. At first, most ladies were skeptical about the applications, but after the first use their opinion about the ribbons changed.
After the first gluing, the volume of the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs decreased by a couple of centimeters, the body visually looked slimmer. Tightening, corset tapes reduce appetite. The patches do not impede movement.
Women consider additional advantages of taping compared to salon manipulations to be their reasonable cost, lack of pain and discomfort.
Anti-cellulite tapes are an effective, safe method of eliminating the “orange peel”. To achieve the desired result, you need to carefully study the technology of gluing anti-cellulite tapes at home and familiarize yourself with the list of contraindications. A sustainable effect can only be achieved by combining taping with other methods of body correction.
What is kinesio taping
Kinesio tape is an elastic cotton-based tape coated on the inside with acrylic adhesive that reacts to body temperature. The material does not interfere with heat exchange and evaporation of sweat from the surface of the body. The thickness and elastic properties of the tape are close to the parameters of the skin, so a person does not feel any discomfort from wearing it.
The adhesive back of the tape is activated by lightly rubbing the finished application. The wearing period of the applied tape can be up to 5 days.
The application is resistant to moisture: it remains on the skin after heavy sweating, mechanical friction and contact with water (showering, swimming and other water sports).
Kinesio taping supports muscles without limiting their mobility. The tape lifts the skin at a microscopic level, stimulating lymph flow and improving blood circulation.
Detection of pathology
Before choosing taping of the adductor muscle of the inner thigh, you should make sure that the diagnosis is correct. There is a list of typical symptoms for this:
- Pain on the front of the leg above the knee.
- Blocking knee extension.
The last characteristic is a sure sign. If you lay a person on his stomach and bend his leg, the heel will not reach the buttock. In this case, taping the quadriceps muscle will definitely be needed.
What does a muscle consist of?
The muscle is divided into 4 “petals” and converges into a single whole in the area of the knee joint. Name of “compound” muscles:
- Straight. Connects the hip and knee joints.
- Intermediate. Attaches to the femur.
- Medial. Distally connected to the tibia.
- Lateral. It is fixed from below to the lateral part of the patella.
In order to perform taping on the anterior surface of the thigh, it is necessary to understand exactly where the source of the pathology is. This can be determined by pressing. The problem is where the pain is greatest.
