Friday, May 2, 2014

Book Review: Kinesiology Taping by John Langendoen and Karin Sertel


Kinesiology Taping
The Essential Step-by-Step Guide
by John Langendoen and Karin Sertel

Taping can be effective and simple -- all with a 2-inch wide piece of self-adhesive cotton tape. 70 proven tape applications for 160 conditions.

Athletes are wearing brightly colored tapes at sporting events like the London Olympics, Wimbledon, gymnastics meets or even out jogging.

The reason they're taping is because it's an effective way to treat a myriad of conditions like muscle pain, bruising, sore muscles, bad posture, swelling, strains, sprains, support during training, arthritic conditions, menstrual complaints, headaches and even sinusitis.

Tapes, both elastic and non-elastic, are applied directly to the skin. The most important effect of the tape is pain relief and the second is increased mobility. That relationship between pain and movement is critical. A perceived decrease in pain enables more movement, which is essential to recovery and rehabilitation. 


 
How to tape oneself, friends or loved ones safely and effectively is explained in easy-to-understand directions and step-by-step photos showing how taping works, where and when it can be applied, and what to do during a practice session.

There are 70 proven tape applications for more than 160 ailments, conditions and related body parts that are explained in easy-to-follow detail through directions and step-by-step color photos. Self-treatment, regeneration and prevention for almost any complaint is just a roll of tape away.

Handy charts, graphs and listings make it simple to find the taping technique best suited to a personal concern.

Taping allows the body to rest and heal naturally, reduces inflammation, increases circulation and allows appropriate movements. These effective techniques have been used by millions of people worldwide to take advantage of taping's many benefits.
 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
John Langendoen has a MSc in pain management and a bachelor degree in physiotherapy. He's an active proponent of self-taping and over the last 5 years he has been conducting international seminars, presentations and workshops on the subject throughout the world including North America. His experience also includes presentations at international conferences as well as being a member of the medical staff for the Korean National Football Team at FIFA World Cups.

Karin Sertel is a physical therapist and experienced Hand, Manual (Maitland Concept) and Cranio-Sacral Therapist for both children and adults. For over 30 years, she's been a huge advocate for self-therapy in her hand patients and self-taping has become a major component of her hand rehabilitation approach.


ABOUT ROBERT ROSE
Robert Rose, Inc. based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and founded in 1995, is one of North America’s leading publishers of bestselling and award-winning cookbooks and health books designed to guide, inform, advise, and do everything possible to make your life easier. Our books contain an abundance of full-color photographs, important diet and nutritional guides, accessible charts and tables, handy and delicious meal plans, practical make-ahead meal ideas, and easy-to-understand step-by-step instructions.

Our authors are the most knowledgeable ‘go to’ experts on a variety of subjects including everything from parenting to diabetes, whole grains to medicinal herbs, and they can even tell you how to manage Crohn’s and Colitis and plan nutritious vegan or vegetarian meals. Several of our books have won prominent awards including the Gourmand World Cookbook Award, the International Association of Culinary Professional Award, and the Cordon D’Or Culinary International Academy Award.

We offer a vast and incredible selection of cookbooks on every topic from slow cookers and bread making, to baking the perfect cheesecake and preserving jams and jellies. We even feature titles that bring the authentic flavors of Thailand, India and Italy into your home kitchen with ingredients that can be easily found in your local grocery store.

Our health books, on topics such as diabetes management, include the most current and comprehensive information and are loaded with amazing recipes created to help you achieve a healthier lifestyle. In an always easy and accessible format, our books contain helpful tips and techniques, nutritional information, and mouth-watering meal ideas designed to appeal to all cooking levels.

At Robert Rose, we hold a commitment to excellence in all our titles and authors – and we do it all with you in mind.



Purchase Kinesiology Taping on Amazon and BetterWorldBooks, visit videos from the authors, Taping for Shoulder Pain, Taping for Knee Pain, and Tend to a Sprained Ankle, available on RobertRose.  You can also visit http://kinematic-taping.com/home/ (which is in German).


OUR THOUGHTS
I'd recently heard of kinesiology taping, so when this review opportunity came up it was a great opportunity to learn more!  The What You Need To Know section takes you through what kinesiology is, how it works, the basics, what you should know about the tape material & colors, how to prepare & apply them, and how to choose a tape for a specific complaint.  In the All Tapes From Head to Toe section, are the 160 conditions & ailments, all with instructions and full color pictures.  There's a section on detailing special points after that.

I often have tense neck and shoulder muscles so I'd like to give kinesiology taping a try, although I'll need a partner to help tape me for that application.  I used to sprain my ankles often (thankfully it's been almost 3 years since the last time!); another application I can use.  My son has primary lymphedema that crops up during the winter months - we've begun using cold laser therapy for that, and I'm happy to see we can use kinesiology for it, too.  I even talked to my son's chiropractor about kinesiology, only come to find out he is already certified in kinesiology taping!

The only thing I wish Kinesiology Taping had was more diagrams of the muscles.  While I would feel comfortable using this book to do the specific applications mentioned within, I wouldn't want to try something not listed in the book without first taking a basic anatomy course, at least.  The tape isn't cheap, so I would want to be 100% comfortable before spending the money to tape myself.

Kinesiology Taping is a great book for beginners who want to learn about it, and learn some specific applications.

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