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KINESIO TAPING He also reports that the tape can be a correctional tool, addressing postural, positional, and joint function, as well as a method of pain relief.3 A growing body of research is documenting Kinesio taping's benefits for children, including stabilizing finger movements and improving neurological impairments. PROVING ITSELF IN RESEARCH Supplementing the staggering growth of this simple tool is a growing body of research around the Kinesio taping protocol and other similar taping strategies. Jarvis says one of the most exciting areas of research is in the pediatric arena, which is also the largest and fastest growing segment within the OT and PT markets. When Jarvis first came on board with Kinesio, he says it was the research being done on children and the prospect of helping them live more functional lives that solidified his faith in the product. From oral motor control to improved neuromuscular function, research is showing great benefit for children utilizing taping procedures, according to Jarvis. • A study published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy found that children with musculoskeletal weakness of the hand or central nervous system dysfunction show great improvement after having their hands taped. Taping for palmer stability, researchers say, eliminates the "mass grasp" response from children and provides the proprioceptive input of stabilizing and facilitating fine finger movements.1 • A 2003 study from Trish Martin and Audrey Yasukawa found that Kinesio taping can help children with neurological disorders, developmental delay, and dysarthria improve their ability to fully close their mouth, resulting in better articulation, TMJ stabilization, and decreased drooling. Taping trials at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation found great improvement for children involved in the study, whether as a result of sensory change or as greater facilitation of the orbicularis oris.2 • At the Potential Development Support Center in Hokkaido, Japan, researcher Maruko Kayoko combined traditional aquatic therapies with taping protocols to improve neurological impairment in children. Kayoko says that during his clinical treatments, he's seen the taping method assist patients with muscle imbalance by stimulating weak muscles and relaxing overused muscles. ENHANCE RESPONSE As research continues to prove its benefits, and more clients increasingly turn into converts, Vaughn sees Kinesio taping as a tool every MT should consider. "I think that the modern massage therapist should have not only good orthopedic assessment skills, but should enhance their hands-on skills with knowledge and modality skills that can include Kinesio taping," he says. "It is a form of sensory stimulation on the skin, not unlike massage and bodywork in its most basic neurophysiology. Any massage therapist who is interested in the challenge of specific orthopedic complaints, including headaches, tight muscles, as well as soft-tissue injury, can include Kinesio taping into their overall protocols of care and can expect positive results." Ultimately, he says, Kinesio taping will enhance the therapeutic neuro-sensory response of the massage therapist's goals for his or her client. Karrie Osborn is contributing editor for Massage & Bodywork magazine. NOTES 1. Charles Long et al., "Intrinsic-Extrinsic Muscle Control of the Hand in Power Grip and Precision Handling," The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery 52–A (1970): 853–867. 2. P. Martin, "Use of Kinesio Tape in Pediatrics to Improve Oral Motor Control," in 18th Annual Kinesio Taping International Symposium Review (Tokyo: Kinesio Taping Association, 2003). 3. K. Maruko, "Kinesio Taping with Aqua Therapy for Pediatric Disability Involving Neurological Impairment," in 15th Annual Kinesio Taping International Symposium Review (Tokyo: Kinesio Taping Association, 1999), 70–73. visit massageandbodywork.com to access your digital magazine 59