KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
Kinesio Taping for Skin Wounds
Kiyotaka Oka
Office Ikuno, President
Summary: Kinesio Tape was used on skin wounds such as burns, abrasions and incised wounds to
examine its effects on the recovery rate of skin wounds.
Emphasis of Presentation: The wounds heal cleanly and rapidly by applying a moistened Kinesio Tape
to the edge of wound.
Clinical research report or Basic research report:
Usually, Kinesio Tape is used for joint pain and muscle pain, but in this study, Kinesio Tape was used for
the treatment of skin wounds as a new use of Kinesio Tape.
Method: Moistened or dry Kinesio Tape was applied to wounds such as burns, abrasions and incised
wounds and the results compared compared.
Results: It was found that wounds healed rapidly and cleanly by using Kinesio Tape while maintaining
moist conditions. In addition, it was well received by patients who felt the wounds healed rapidly and
cleanly.
Discussion: It is believed that the rate of skin cell regeneration can be improved by increasing the
circulation of blood and lymph fluid, which is facilitated by use of moistened Kinesio Tape. The natural
healing power is maximized with Kinesio Tape and the regeneration of skin is accelerated and the wound
heals rapidly and cleanly.
We usually use Kinesio Tape for joint pain and muscle pain, but even when the injury is treated by using
adhesive Tape, healing is often delayed and scars remain, so my family and I examined whether Kinesio
Tape can be used for the treatment of skin injury.
I read a newspaper article that said, Skin injuries heal more quickly and finely by treating without drying
and while keeping moist. In an orthopedic clinic, skin injuries heal cleanly and quickly by using wound
coverings and keeping the area moist. Recently, adhesive Tapes for injury using coverings have been
marketed, but as a Kinesio Tape lover, I treated the skin wound using Kinesio Tape, keeping it moist by
use of tap water and deep sea water (for skin care). In addition, in a few cases, we compared the healing
rate between a case left dry without attaching anything and a case using the usual adhesive Tape.
<Methods>
1. The wound should be washed with tap water. No disinfectant should be used. This is because, as it
was described in the newspaper, Not only bacteria but also living cells (white blood cells, fibroblasts,
epidermal cells, etc.) may be killed by using disinfectants, and as a result, infections are induced and
wound healing is delayed. However, if foreign matter such as sand or glass pieces entered the
wound, they can cause purulence, so they should be removed completely by brushing. It may be
necessary to remove any deeper fragments at the hospital.
2. Prepare a pad to be placed on the wound.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
The Kinesio Tape should be cut to a size that completely covers the wound, and folded on itself (two
glue surfaces together) to make a pad.
3.
The wound and the pad should be moistened well with tap water or deep-sea water, and the pad should
be placed on the wound.
4. A Second Kinesio Tape cut to a size that completely covers the pad is then applied to protect the pad.
The above procedures should be repeated, but it is not necessary to change it every day. If the Tape is
contaminated or nearly peeled, it should be changed. In addition, if it is hygienically affected, it should be
changed every day. Thereafter, tap water or deep-sea water should be sprayed to moisten the Kinesio
Tape so the wound does not dry out.
5. When the scab has disappeared or the cut skin healed, the pad should be removed, and the Kinesio
Tape should be applied directly onto the scar. At this point it is no longer necessary to moisten the tape.
The tape should be applied continuously until the scar disappears completely or the patient is no longer
concerned about the scar.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
I will discuss several cases.
<Abrasion 1>
A 32-year old man. A wound about 1 cm in length on the left thumb, which was caused by abrasion with
the corner of concrete block.
Kinesio Tape was attached using deep-sea water as shown in the photograph.
The wound at the time of injury The wound after 5 days of treatment.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
<Abrasion 2>
A 6-year old girl with a wound in the left thumb. It is about
1 cm in length, and the skin turned over by abrasion
with a tatami mat.
Kinesio Tape was attached using deep-sea water as shown in the photograph.
The wound at the time of injury The wound after 1 week of treatment.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
<Abrasion 3>
A 22-year old woman with a wound about 2 cm in length on the right knee, caused by falling while playing
touch football. This photo is the wound 3 days after the injury.
Kinesio Tape was attached using deep-sea water as shown in the photograph.
The wound 3 days after the injury After 1 week of treatment.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
<Abrasion 4>
A 22-year old woman with a wound about 4 cm in length on the left ankle, caused by falling while playing
touch football. It is a moderately deep wound.
Kinesio Tape was attached using deep-sea water as shown in the photograph.
The wound at the time of injury The wound after 1 week of treatment.
<Abrasion 5>
A 5-year old boy. A wound caused by abrasion with the corner of a pillar.
These photographs show the dried wound. The wound after about 1 month of treatment.
Scar still remains.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
<Abrasion 6>
A 30-year old man. A wound caused by scratching with nails.
This photograph shows the dried wound after about 3 weeks of treatment.
Scar still remains.
<Abrasion 7>
Comparison between Kinesio Tape and adhesive tape was attempted.
A 29-year old man with an abrasive wound.
It is about 5 mm in length and localized in the
joint between the third and fourth fingers of the left hand and.
Using tap water, Kinesio Tape was attached to the fourth finger,
and the adhesive tape was attached to the third finger.
The wound at the time of injury The wound after 3 days of treatment. The scar on the fourth finger
has nearly disappeared, but the area with the adhesive tape on the
third finger became wrinkly, and the scar still remains.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
<Frostbite>
A 17-year old man. This wound is considered a
second-degree frostbite caused by a cold spray on the
right ankle joint. It is about 5 cm in size.
Kinesio Tape was applied using deep-sea water as shown in the photograph.
The wound at the time of injury The wound after 3 weeks of treatment.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
<Burn 1>
A 65-year old woman. This wound is considered a second-degree
shallow burn on the right forearm, which was caused by contact
with a frying pan. It is about 10 cm in length 3 days after the injury.
Tap water was used.
The wound 3 days after the injury The wound after 1 week of treatment.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
<Burn 2>
A 17-year old woman. A burn caused by contact with an iron plate while baking bread. It is considered a
second-degree deep burn on the right thigh 4 days after the injury. In this case, the wound is relatively
large, and she had a total 4 wounds, with the largest about 8 cm in length and about 1.5 cm in width.
I recommended that she go to the hospital because she could not feel the wound and the skin was feeling
tightened, but she strongly wished to try this therapeutic method first, so the treatment was started.
Kinesio Tape was applied using deep-sea water as shown in the photograph.
The wound after 1 month of treatment. At this point, two smaller wounds have disappeared completely.
Since the scab had disappeared at this point,
Kinesio Tape was applied directly onto the scar.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
The wound 4 days after the injury After 3 months of treatment. The remaining 2 wounds
reduced to about 1/3 of their size at the time of injury,
and the irregularity of the wound has disappeared.
<Laceration>
A 32-year old man with a wound caused by clashing into something while swimming and lacerating the
skin between the second and the third toes of the right foot.
Kinesio Tape was attached using deep-sea water as shown in the photograph.
The wound at the
time of injury The wound after 1 week
of treatment
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
<Cut 1>
A 55-year old woman with a wound about 2 cm in length
on the right hand, caused by a broken glass while
washing table ware.
Deep-sea water was used.
The wound at the time of injury The wound after 1 week of treatment.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
<Cut 2>
A 65-year old woman with a wound about
1 cm in length on the fifth finger of the right hand,
caused by a broken glass while washing table ware.
The wound 2 days after the injury.
Tap water was used.
The wound 2 days after the injury After 1 week of treatment.
<Cut 3>
A 33-year old man with a wound on the sole region on the side of little toe, caused by stepping on
something. It is 2 cm in length and a few mm in depth. Tap water was used.
The wound 3 days After 1 week of treatment.
after the injury
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
<Cut 4>
A 32-year old man with a paper cut 1 cm in length and 1 mm in depth. Tap water was used.
The wound at After 1 week of treatment.
the time of injury
<Cut 5>
A 30-year old man with paper cut, with the skin slightly turned over. It is 3 days after the injury. It was
treated with an adhesive tape only without moistening.
The wound 3 days after the injury After 3 weeks of treatment. The scar still remains.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
<Cut 6>
A 16-year old female high school student with a cut caused by falling on a knee. It is about 10 cm in
length, and these photographs show the wound 3 days after removal of the suture. Tap water was used
until the scab disappeared, and thereafter, Kinesio Tape was applied directly.
These photographs show the wound after 2 months of treatment. The wound was shortened slightly, and
the scar from the sutures disappeared gradually.
<Results>
1. Water or deep sea water were used on a total 14 cases (including those not shown in photographs).
Abrasion in 6 cases Burn (including frostbite) in 3 cases
Cut (including laceration) in 5 cases
All the patients answering unknown had burns including severe ones and the ones treated continuously.
KTUS-DoCol-4 - 09-Sep-2010
2. A total of 7 cases of dried wounds
Abrasion in 4 cases Cut in 3 cases
<Discussion>
1. By moistening the pad, the skin cells are more easily regenerated, white blood cells, platelets and
cytokines actively accelerate regeneration of the skin, and eschar does not readily form.
2. Since the skin cells regenerated more easily, bacterial infection is reduced.
3. In changing the pad, the scab is does not adhere to the pad and peel off forcibly, therefore the cut is
not reopened.
4. By applying Kinesio Tape to the scar, the circulation of the blood and lymph fluid under the scar and
its surrounding skin is improved, and regeneration of the skin is accelerated.
From the above, it is believed that the natural healing power is maximized, that regeneration of the skin is
accelerated and the wounds heal more rapidly, cleanly and with minimal scarring.
Finally, it is considered better to have an examination at the hospital in the case of very large or deep
wounds. Since this clinic is an acupuncture and orthopedic clinic, it is impossible to use drugs, but we will
use this method for the treatment of skin wounds in the future.
