Kinesio taping for cellulite correction
Kinesio taping is one of the most promising techniques today, which is rapidly spreading throughout the world. Kinesio tapes are already widely used in the practice of cellulite correction, showing very good results.
Tkachenko Svetlana Gennadievna , candidate of medical sciences, dermatovenerologist, associate professor of the department of dermatology, venereology and medical cosmetology of KhNMU, doctor of the medical center " European Dermatology ", Kharkov
A couple of years ago, I began my articles on kinesio taping with a detailed description of the technique, today there is no need for this - everyone knows about kinesio taping. The current state of the issue largely concerns the evidence base, expanding the range of application of the technique, and improving the technique. So, at the end of 2021, using the keywords kinesio taping, I found 332 publications on the Pubmed platform and 524 on Medline. Kinesio taping is mentioned 6 times on the Medscape platform in recommendations for the treatment of a number of diseases related to rheumatology, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and sports medicine. Kinesio tapes are successfully used by specialists in the beauty and health industry (cosmetologists, massage therapists, fitness trainers, podiatrists, etc.) and are widely used independently at home.
Anti-cellulite kinesio taping
Aesthetic kinesio taping is a rapidly developing area that includes both professional and independent use of tapes to correct cosmetic imperfections of the face and body. It is in cellulite correction programs that the effects of tapes turned out to be physiological and very effective. Kinesio tapes are methods of mechanical correction, as are manual massage and hardware methods (hardware lymphatic drainage, pressotherapy, dermotonia, endermology, etc.). These methods affect 2 pathophysiological moments in the development of cellulite: fibrosis and lymphostasis. Indirectly, due to increased microcirculation, they can reduce the size of adipocytes (as is known, the rate of lipolysis is directly proportional to the speed of blood flow) and improve metabolism.
The undeniable advantage of kinesio taping is the exposure time, that is, the duration of one procedure. After all, the tape never rests - it works all the time during application. And if a manual or hardware massage session lasts 30-90 minutes, then wearing an anti-cellulite tape application lasts 3-5 days, which is up to 120 hours. And all the time the tape will have a defibrosing and lymphatic drainage effect. But there are nuances. The effectiveness of the tape will be directly proportional to the patient’s physical activity: it will increase during physical activity and decrease during sleep. And, of course, the effectiveness of the tape in the first days of application will be higher than in the last: it is a disposable cotton or viscose tape, and it wears out quickly.
Anti-cellulite taping technique
Today, for anti-cellulite kinesiotaping, fan-shaped taping is used, which is classic for lymphatic drainage.
Photos from publicly available Internet sources
The anchor is traditionally attached in the direction of large lymph nodes, tension is 0%. However, you need to understand that even zero manual tension is 10-15% - this is the factory tension (paper off) of the tape with which high-quality kinesiology tape is applied to the paper backing during production. The tails (strips) of the tape are located on problem cellulite areas: legs, thighs, buttocks, abdomen. Most often, the anchor (in our case, the uncut wide part of the tape, which is first applied to the skin) is placed towards the inguinal, femoral, iliac, lumbar lymph nodes, as well as to the lymph nodes of the abdominal cavity in the direction of the thoracic lymphatic duct. The rays of one fan tape do not intersect; the rays of different fan tapes can intersect in the most problematic areas.
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Photos from publicly available Internet sources
There are also special ready-made perforated tapes that are used for lymphatic drainage: they do not require fan cutting and are applied with a continuous wide tape (I-shaped).
Photos from publicly available Internet sources
Research on the use of kinesio taping in cellulite correction
The first such study was the work of Polish authors [1] almost 10 years ago, which described a case of successful correction of grade I cellulite on the lateral thighs of a 32-year-old woman. The authors used applications of fan-shaped intersecting kinesio tapes in the problem area of one thigh for 72 hours; no application was applied to the other thigh. “The patient and both specialists found a significant improvement in the condition of the skin at the site of application of the tape. The skin seemed better vascularized, more elastic and firm, and cellulite less noticeable than before the procedure. The effect was still noticeable after 3 days. There were no changes observed on the untreated control side.”
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Tape application. Source [1]
In my practice of using kinesiotherapy in the correction of cellulite, a positive effect is always noted. It is short-term (several days), but is prolonged with a course of regular use of the procedure. Lymphatic drainage tape is more difficult to wear than I-shaped tape (straight, wide). In addition, this is the area where tights are worn (promotes peeling of the ends of the tape), so 72 hours is the optimal time for anti-cellulite application.
Latest data
Anti-cellulite taping today is becoming very popular both in the world and in our country. My own experience is also accumulating. Thus, in the publications of compatriots, a significant positive effect of the combined use of anti-cellulite massage and kinesio taping on gynoid lipodystrophy in women was noted [2], [3].
Comparative works are appearing studying kinesio taping and various traditional methods for cellulite. Thus, in a study by Cairo University specialists [4], anti-cellulite kinesiotaping and hardware pressotherapy were studied in the correction of gynoid lipodystrophy. The study involved 30 young women suffering from grade 1 gynoid lipodystrophy, aged 18-25 years with a BMI of up to 35 m/kg2. The patients were divided into 2 groups of 15 people with recommendations to adhere to a low-calorie diet (1200 kcal/day) for 6 weeks. At this time, the first group received kinesio taping using the fan technique for 3 days, then a 1-day break, for 6 weeks. The anchor was placed in the area of projection of the greater trochanter, the tails were placed along the posterior and medial surfaces of the thigh. Pressotherapy was carried out 2 times a week for 6 weeks at a pressure of 24 mm/h for 20-30 minutes. To monitor the results, ultrasonography, hip measurements and photometry were used. A significant decrease in the manifestations of cellulite was recorded in both groups for all three indicators, but in the pressotherapy group the dynamics were more pronounced.
Aesthetic kinesiotaping is a promising method that is being actively studied by modern medical science. Painless and not damaging the integrity of tissues, it can not only reduce the appearance of cellulite, but also contribute to the overall health of the body. The evidence base for the use of the method is growing, and my personal advice to all aesthetic medicine specialists is to master kinesio taping, implement the method in your practice, gain experience, publish it, share and learn.
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