Kinesiotaping is indispensable in (sports) medicine. The application of tape lifts the skin, which affects the function of the underlying muscles. Kinesiotaping is also a valuable addition to treatments in speech therapy. For example with open-mouth behavior.
Kinesiotaping is an originally Asian tapemethode. In the seventies, chiropractor and kinesiologist Kenzo Kase developed various intervention techniques with kinesiotape. In the Netherlands too much experience has been gained over the last 20 years with the use of kinesiotape and the application possibilities have been further developed.
Kinesiotape stimulates hypotonic muscles and inhibits hypertonic muscles. The application of kinesiotape ensures that the skin is lifted. The function of the underlying muscles is influenced by this; the tone of the muscles changes as a result. Kinesiotaping is used within speech therapy among other things to treat throat complaints, voice complaints, tense muscles (around larynx, shoulders, stomach and back), pain complaints, facial paralysis, problems with swallowing, drooling and open mouth behavior. *
With open mouth behavior and mouth breathing, the strength of the orbicularis oris muscle is insufficient. Whether that power is (un)sufficient can be measured with the Force scale and the Myoscanner. Strengthening a too weak orbicularis oris muscle is necessary for obtaining a good mouth closure and nasal breathing. In addition to the various lip strengthening exercises for this, such as the knot or bottle exercise, the use of masking of the lips with a lip plaster is regularly used within the oro-myofunctional therapy (OMFT). This can be done with different techniques and materials, such as Fixomull stretch, Leukopor and kinesiotaping, for which Cure tape is usually used.
The muscle technique can be used to influence the musculus orbicularis oris. The Cure tape is applied with this technique with 10 – 20% elongation on the orbicularis oris muscle. The kinesiotape is set up in such a way that it has an activating effect. The client feels the orbicular muscle oris contract, causing the lips to close. Yet there is the possibility to open and speak. This way of kinesiotaping can be applied during sleep as well as during the day. Within our OMFT courses the use of kinesiotaping to activate the orbicularis oris muscle is extensively discussed and practiced.
* Source: FysioGraaf, Tailor-made training; Kinesiotaping for speech-language practice.
