RockTape and Crossfit: Keeping the Athlete 'In The Game

rossFit athletes are different from average weekend warriors. They are of all sizes, ages, and athletic back-grounds. They like to train for fitness and make it a

lifestyle. Unlike those who work out in a big box gym, these athletes surround themselves with like-minded individuals, which creates a cool community and “team.”

TAPING

RockTape and CrossFit: Keeping the Athlete ‘in the game’By Ed Le Cara, DC, PhD, ATC, CSCS

Unfortunately, injuries happen to all athletes who partici-pate in physical activities. Recent literature has reported that CrossFitters have injury rates similar to other high-intensity activities, such as gymnastics. When CrossFitters are injured and seek care, they look for providers who help them continue CrossFitting during recovery. Many times these athletes come in to my office, and they first say, “If you tell me to stop Cross-Fitting, I will leave.” To approach injuries with these athletes, I help them modify exercises so they can continue to maintain their fitness levels and continue to be a part of their “team.”

Modalities that help athletes continue participation but sup-port injured structures are in high demand with this athletic population. Kinesiology tape is one of those modalities that can help athletes overcome injuries. Kinesiology tape can be used to decrease pain by stimulating the neurologic system, support-ing muscle function, reducing muscle spasms, and removing congestion of lymphatic fluids 1.

Kinesiology tape is a commonly used intervention in the management of a number of clinical conditions, including knee pain and shoulder impingement syndrome. Taping may also aid in the facilitation and inhibition of muscle activity, reposition-ing of joints, injury prevention, and to improve proprioception.

After incurring an injury, the body releases chemicals that cause inflammation, such as serotonin, prostaglandin E2, his-tamine, bradykinin, and substance P, to stimulate nociceptors (nerves that carry pain sensation to the brain) to increase activ-ity and, thus, pain perception. The presence of these chemical irritants lowers the nociceptive (pain) threshold, which causes previously innocuous mechanical stimulus to feel painful. This ocurrence is known as peripheral sensitization.

Those same chemicals cause neurogenic inflammation characterized by vasodilation of the local vessels, increased vascular permeability, pigmenting of leukocyte and venules, PMN mediated phagocytosis, and mast cell release of histamine, serotonin, and leukotrienes. This process results in even more

C

Additionally, a number of changes take place within the spinal cord consequent to the nociceptive input. The result is hyperexcitability of the interneuron pool, which serves to mag-nify reflex ramifications, including muscle spasm via synaptic communication with the segmental gamma motor neurons and sympathetic hyperactivity to the injured tissue. The sympathetic neurons in the anteromedial lateral cell column of lamina VII from T1 to L2 may result in sympathetic vasoconstriction and ischemia in varying degrees resulting in more pain. Central sensitization refers to hyperexcitable spinal cord reflexes developed as a consequence of continuous nociceptive input. Nociceptive efferents at the spinal segmental level consist of type A delta and C fibers, which have conduction velocities that are considerably slower than those of mechanoreceptor efferents and, therefore, arrive at the spinal cord later.

How Kinesiology Tape Is Used

Kinesiology tape can have an effect on the chemical and neu-rological effects of an injury. Kinesiology tape is cut from a roll (there are also precut versions available) to fit the desired length. The skin is then prepped with alcohol to clean the area

pain and swelling at the injury site.

14 I The American Chiropractor I JULY 2014 www.theamericanchiropractor.com

TAPING

FIGURE1: EFFECTS OF TAPING

In essence, when the skin is stimulated with kinesiology

tape, the mechanoreceptor sig-nals are traveling faster to the

brain and inhibiting pain communication.

ʼ̓ of any dirt or oils. The tape is applied to the skin while the desired tissue is in a stretched position. By applying the tape appropriately, convolutions are formed. These convolutions increase the space between the skin and the underlying fascia (a layer of connective tissue covering muscles), thus increasing the flow of lymphatic fluid and extracellular fluid. By allowing more fluids to flow through the tissues, the chemicals in your body that cause inflammation do not have the chance to build up, thus reducing further chemical irritation.

Not only does kinesiology tape help increase circulation and lymphatic flow to the inflamed tissue, but it also acts directly as a pain mediator. There are two proposed mechanisms for how kinesiology tape decreases pain:

1. Pain Gate Theory: By applying kinesiology tape, it stimu-lates mechanoreceptors that are located in the skin. Those mechanoreceptors synapse with interneurons located in lamina II of the posterior horn, which release endorphins and inhibit the activity of nociceptive efferents. This inhibits further com-munication with its second order neuron and inhibits central sensitization. The faster conduction velocity and endorphin release effectively close the pain gate. In essence, when the skin is stimulated with kinesiology tape, the mechanorecep-tor signals are traveling faster to the brain and inhibiting pain communication.2. Decompression: As explained above, kinesiology tape helps to slightly pull the skin and fascia away from the muscles. Not

only does this increase space for the blood and lymphatic fluids to flow, but it also helps to create more subcutaneous space to relieve pressure and irritation on the nerves. Figure 1 (below) shows how pressure on a nerve following an injury can lead to increased pain.

It has been well documented that when the body is in pain, it moves unpredictably and less efficiently. Sometimes these altered movements put other uninjured tissues at risk of a com-pensation or overuse injury. By allowing your CrossFit athletes to get out of pain quickly and by modifying their workouts for a short period, they can continue training and maintain their fitness. In conjunction with a healthy diet and proper exercise, kinesiology tape is a great way to help your body heal quickly and properly.

ʼ̓

Compression of nerve in interface (e.g. Fascia or muscle)

Mechanical irritation

Ischemia of nerveand hypoxia

Formation of

abnormal impulsegenerating sites

Mechanosensitivity

Increased responsiveness to chemical

and mechanical stimuli


LubriSynHA is simply the best joint supplement we have used in our 16 year practice. It is highly absorbable yielding maximal results, safe, and effective.

Dr.’s Toby & Sheila HarmonHarmon Family Chiropractic

ARE YOU READY TO BE A HERO TO YOUR CLIENTS?

Introducing

www.LubriSyn.com (800) 901-8498

US Patent 6607745

High-Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid

Keep Patients Comfortable Between Visits

Manufactured in a FDA/GMP Approved Facility

Results in 7-10 Days!

All Natural gluten free

BPAFREE

“

“

To learn more, circle #384 on The Action Card

TAPING

References:

1. Kinesio Taping Method. Retrieved from http://www.kinesiotaping.com/about/kinesio-taping-method on 15 April 2014.

2. Callaghan MJ, Selfe J, Bagley PJ, Oldham JA. The effects of taping on knee joint proprioception. Journal of Athletic Training 2002; 37: 19-24.

3. Copping J, O’Driscoll ML. Ap-plication of tape on the shoulder joint: An effective therapeutic modality for the treatment of impingement syndrome? Physical Therapy Reviews 2005; 10: 231-236.

4. Alexander CM, Stynes S, Thomas A, Lewis J, Harrison PJ. Does tape facilitate or inhibit the lower fibers of trapezius? Journal of Manual Therapy Feb 2003; 8 (1): 37-41.

5. Zanella PW, Willey SM, Seibel SS, Hughes CJ.The effect of scapular taping on shoulder joint repositioning. Journal of Sports Rehabilitation 2001; 10: 113-123.

6. Kneeshaw D. Shoulder taping in the clinical setting. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 2002; 6: 2-8.

7. Anandkumar S. Kinesio tape man-agement for superficial radial nerve entrapment: A case report. Journal of Physiotherapy Theory & Practice 2013; 29 (3): 232-241.

Ed Le Cara, DC, PhD, ATC, CSCS is board certi-fied in sports medicine and rehabilitation. He is a chi-

ropractic clinician, educator and on the medical advisory board for Rocktape. He provides live and online education for movement professionals at www.HealthandWellnessProviders.com. To contact him, email at [email protected] or follow on Twitter: @drlecara. He hosts a monthly webinar demonstrating different taping applications and answers questions. Look on Google Hangouts under 'Basics of Kinesiology Taping' for his next event.
