Kinesio Tex Tape - holding me together one strand at a time

Rugby is primarily a contact sport, which by nature will a times lead to injuries. Don’t get me wrong, rugby is by no means a dangerous sport in my opinion. Usually when a serious injury does occur whilst playing rugby, it is simply due to a freak accident. If players are coached properly and remain fit, nothing too serious should go wrong.

Whilst I no longer play contact rugby due to rugby related injuries over the years, I do play a regular game of touchies down at Hamiltons RFC, whom as most of you already know were recently crowned 2009 SAA National Club Champs.

Anywho, so there I am running with the ball, no one even near me, in the howling South Easter, when all of a sudden there is a loud snapping sound, and down I go like a sack of potatoes. My first thoughts were that I had snapped my ankle, as the pain was excruciating for the 1st few seconds. Luckily, Dr Garth Roberts was at hand to attend to me immediately. In-fact, it was him who had just seconds before passed me the ball. Upon examining my ankle he was able to calm my initial worries that I had snapped my ankle, and diagnosed me on the spot.

Dr Roberts was called out to an emergency today, so he referred me to the Hamies 1st XV physio, Dr Nico Claassen, who practices in conjunction with him here in Seapoint. Upon examining my ankle, Dr Claassen confirmed Dr Roberts’ initial diagnoses, that I had picked up a grade 2 tear in both my ulterior and lateral ankle ligaments. You can visit their website at www.chiropractor.co.za. I think you will find their rates easy on the pocket.

Both Dr Roberts and Dr Claassen promote the use of Kinesio Tape to facilitate rehabilitation in sporting injuries. You may have seen this tape before on various rugby players, most notably the blue tape on Tonderai Chavanga’s susceptible hamstrings.

A brief explanation of what Kinesio Tape does:

When an athlete suffers an injury, the outcome and implications are often more severe than for a normal person. Kinesio Taping is a new and effective treatment for muscle/joint dysfunction. The method is ideal for physiotherapists, sports injury practitioners and lymphoedema specialists.

This new taping method is fundamentally different to other athletic taping techniques. Using a highly elastic and unique adhesive tape called Kinesio Tex, alongside specialist Kinesio Taping applications, the method gives muscles support, even during intense activity, without affecting circulation or range of motion. This key feature allow athletes to continue their training and sporting activities despite injury.

Kinesio Taping can also be applied so that it lifts the skin away from the fascia, forming convolutions and facilitating lymph flow 24 hours a day. This technique can be used to relieve pain and swelling.

Dr Roberts was recently feature on SABC’s programme, Free Spirit:

For more information, visit www.chiropractor.co.za, or call:

Dr Garth Roberts (Chiropractor) +27 21 439 8898

Dr Nico Claassen (Physiotherapist) +27 21 434 4009