Can I use Kinesio Tape when I am Pregnant? Is it okay for pregnant women to use Kinesio Tape? How do I tape a pregnant woman? These are all questions I’ve heard many times. And yes, it is okayfor women to use Kinesio Tape when pregnant. This blog edition is to help guide you through taping for a pregnant woman. First, identify what the issue is. Is the woman having back pain? Does the baby feel heavy and the woman feels like they need support in the front? When I was towards the end of my pregnancy, I always felt like I needed to hold the bottom of my belly to support the baby because as I got bigger, my baby felt so heavy out in front! And as always, it is recommended to have a professional that is skilled in Kinesio taping to help you the first few times as knowledge of anatomy as well as understanding the qualities of the Kinesio Tape are important and will make the taping much more beneficial. Once you have identified what you would like to tape for, then begin to assess the basic principles of Kinesio Taping and apply them to the area you will tape for the pregnant woman.
Can I use Kinesio Tape when I am Pregnant? Is it okay for pregnant women to use Kinesio Tape? How do I tape a pregnant woman? These are all questions I’ve heard many times. And yes, it is okay for women to use Kinesio Tape when pregnant. This blog edition is to help guide you through taping for a pregnant woman. First, identify what the issue is. Is the woman having back pain? Does the baby feel heavy and the woman feels like they need support in the front? When I was towards the end of my pregnancy, I always felt like I needed to hold the bottom of my belly to support the baby because as I got bigger, my baby felt so heavy out in front! And as always, it is recommended to have a professional that is skilled in Kinesio taping to help you the first few times as knowledge of anatomy as well as understanding the qualities of the Kinesio Tape are important and will make the taping much more beneficial. Once you have identified what you would like to tape for, then begin to assess the basic principles of Kinesio Taping and apply them to the area you will tape for the pregnant woman.
This post is directed at Kinesio Taping for abdominal support for a pregnant woman.
Understanding the pictures: The numbers with boxes around them represent the order of placement of the strips of Kinesio Tape and the box represents the anchor spot. All these pieces are applied with paper off tension. It is okay to apply a little more than paper off tension (~25%) to the 3rd piece of Kinesio Tape if desired.
1) In supine (laying on their back), place the first I strip of Kinesio Tape with an anchor (starting piece) below the belly and with paper off tension apply it vertically towards the chest. Repeat this strip to both sides of the belly, on either side of the belly button.
2) In standing, place the final strip of Kinesio Tape with the anchor (starting piece) in the center of the belly, 4-6 inches below the belly button. The tails (end pieces) are applied around the belly towards the spine. Use paper off or up to 25% tension for this piece of Kinesio Tape.
Precautions for using Kinesio Tape during pregnancy: It is important to remember that a woman’s body during pregnancy is very sensitive. Some woman may feel nauseous with application of Kinesio Tape. If this is the case, remove the Kinesio Tape. Pregnant women may also have sensitivity of their skin resulting in a mild allergic reaction from adhesives (redness, itchiness, etc). If this occurs, remove the tape. Kinesio Tape is latex free and cotton based, but sensitivity to the adhesive can occur. Basically, if it doesn’t feel good, remove the Kinesio Tape. The Kinesio Tape should be applied to help and if it is not helping, remove the Kinesio Tape Also consider using the Kinesio Tex Gold (if you can still find it as it has been discontinued) or theKinesio Tex Classic (the replacement for the discontinued Kinesio Tex Gold line) when taping pregnant women as the adhesive is less aggressive. The Kinesio Tex Gold FP (Finger Print; the newest of the Kinesio Tape family) has a higher adhesive content because it is directed towards high performance athletes, sports medicine, and orthopedic use.
Good Luck and I hope this helps the pregnant women you love find some comfort and relief! Enjoy.