Health Watch, Tape Helps Heal Injuries | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Fresno, CA For 22-year-old Carlos Villamizar working out at the gym isn't a chore. It's a passion. He said, "It is an important part of my life."

But last year, lifting weights became nearly impossible. Villamizar said, "I felt like someone had stabbed me in the back with a knife."

A pinched nerve caused the muscles in his upper back to weaken. Carlos was told surgery wasn't an option, and it would take two years to heal. "Two years was not acceptable in my standards," said Villamizar.

Instead of waiting, he turned to physical therapy and a special tape. /*Kinesio Tape*/ is stretched and placed on the skin over injured muscles and joints.

Physical Therapist Christopher Stavres said, "You can apply this tape in such a manner that it will help to aid the contraction of that muscle group."

The tape improves circulation and helps remove painful fluid buildup.

Stavres said, "As the Kinesio Tape recoils, what it does is that it then creates these convolutions along the skin, which relieve that pressure. And you can see how he still has to work a little to get it there, but it's much easier for him. His motion is much smoother to go there."

But Physical Therapist Trent Nessler agrees Kinesio Tape can have an impact when combined with other therapies. He said, "It's another great tool that we can use as a part of a well-comprehensive program."

Carlos has been using the tape for three months. Today, he's back lifting weights. He said, "To get back in the gym, it's been ... it's key to me."

Sticky Solution, Tape Helps Heal Injuries