Kinesio taping

Kinesio taping

I recently experienced kinesio taping. My right hand and arm, which had been in a sling for a month following a hairline crack in my elbow, started to swell.  I was at the IAAMB/ACWT conference.  Fortunately Lola Michelin, an expert trainer in Equi-Taping, noticed and offered to tape my arm. I was eager to learn another bodywork technique that reduces edema.

Fluid Flows Toward Less Pressure

Lola explained to me that the tape supports lymphatic drainage patterns. Rather than exerting pressure on the area, the tape pulls  the skin tissue up. Remember Bernoulli’s Equation? How about the Venturi effect? The contraction creates negative spaces within the tissues, reducing pressure, drawing in the lymphatic flow.

I watched her apply the  crisscrossed tines of the cut slices of adhesive tape. She created a pattern of diamonds like spread fingers held out over each other.

Initially, I felt the presence of the tape; and soon forgot it was there. It was like someone resting their hand on your arm with very light touch.  After a little while, you forget it’s there. Still, whether you feel it or not, it continues doing its work.

Every once in a while I glanced down at my arm and noticed that the little diamond shaped spaces of exposed skin between the lines of tape. They would swell out, then later, recede.  Puff and recede. Puff and recede. Moving at its own pace. The body, pumping fluid.

It wasn’t so much that flow had been increased, it was more that stagnation had been interrupted.

Within an hour, I was able to move my fingers more quickly. I had greater flexibility in my hand. I had increased range of motion in my wrist and it was noticeably smaller. The swelling had diminished.

Tissue Memory

The tape remained wrapped around my forearm throughout the day and that evening. The next day I removed it. As the day progressed I noticed that some swelling returned but it was different. Now, my fascia remembered pathways that had been created. The body water in my arm was less restricted. It did not have to pool in a sustained state of torpor; building up pressure and causing discomfort with movement. It was my lymphatic system at work.

PetMassage Works The Same Way

During a PetMassage, to access the inner body wisdom, we’ll hold an area on the surface of the dog’s body in a mildly contracted position. The channels within the fascia open for greater flow. There is no need for our hands to stay adhered to the surface. PetMassage identifies movement possibilities. When we observe movement, we breathe into it, follow it, and move on.

For experienced PetMassage practitioners, the reaction is surprisingly quick. It often feels as if it’s spontaneous, starting as soon as the dog feels the lightest sensation at the beginning descent of touch. It actually begins as your hand moves toward the dog’s body. Your expressed intention triggers it. Sometimes, it may take a minute or two to recognize movement; however, when you know what you’re looking for, you can sense when tissue repositions.

The body, like the surface of the ocean, is always moving. Long after we have lifted our hands, the memory of that encounter –and its empowerment– continues.

A Lifetime Of Benefits

This is how each and every PetMassage influences each and every dogs life … for the rest of his life. Each PetMassage observes and facilitates empowerment. Shifting the disbursement patterns of body water enables dogs to release restrictions.

Like one domino knocking the next one over, then the next one, then the next, there is a ripple effect. Fascia remembers! PetMassage helps dogs improve their fluid distribution. Using our hands and intention, energy is pumped. Body water is pumped. Balance is restored. And best of all, your dog’s overall life condition is enhanced.