KT Tape for Horses: Taking the tape off

To get the full rundown on kinesiology taping for horses, check out my blog post located here.

If we want to keep it super simple, kinesiology tape communicates with the nervous system to create actual long-term changes in a horse’s brain! Once the change happens in the horse’s brain, it can then affect the tissue.

Tape does not use force. Instead, it relies on communication with the horse's brain and nervous system. This communication allows for gentle changes in the soft tissue.

Tape can help horses with pain, muscle soreness, joint instability, and more. Learn how to apply it correctly in our equine taping courses for support and relief.

If taping a horse for pain can decrease the pain, or get rid of it altogether, you may be wondering if the pain will return once the tape is removed.

So let's dive in.

Will the pain come back if you take the tape off the horse?

In short, it could.

But it will likely be less pain than before because the purpose of the tape is to break the pain cycle. 

Tape minimizes pain by decompressing nociceptors. 

Nociceptors are receptors that live under the skin at the base of the hair and their job is to communicate pain to the brain.

Tape will communicate with the nervous system to create long-term change, it is not a mask for pain. 

The long-term changes that tape will make for horses

When you use tape on a horse, it's not just about the immediate effects that it has. The goal is for the horse to not need the tape, so it must make long-term effects.

When applied correctly, the tape will have the following long-term changes are that it will:

• communicate body awareness (research shows body awareness decreases pain) 

• improve circulation (aids in healing)

• decrease fatigue

• support weak muscles

• improve soft tissue glide 

These long-term changes are crucial for the overall well-being and performance of the horse. By communicating body awareness, the tape helps the horse become more in tune with its own movements and posture. This increased awareness can lead to a reduction in pain as the horse learns to move in a more balanced and efficient manner.

Improved circulation is another significant benefit of using tape on horses. By enhancing blood flow to the affected areas, the tape aids in the healing process. This is particularly beneficial for horses recovering from injuries or dealing with chronic conditions. The increased blood flow brings essential nutrients and oxygen to the tissues, promoting faster healing and reducing inflammation.

Furthermore, the tape helps decrease fatigue in horses. By providing support to weak muscles, it reduces the strain and fatigue that can occur during physical activities. This is especially important for performance horses that engage in strenuous exercises or competitions. The tape acts as a supportive aid, allowing the horse to perform at its best without experiencing excessive fatigue or muscle strain.

In addition to supporting weak muscles, the tape also improves soft tissue glide. This means that the tape helps reduce friction between different layers of soft tissues, such as muscles and tendons. By promoting smoother movement and reducing friction, the tape can prevent the development of adhesions or scar tissue. This is particularly beneficial for horses recovering from injuries or undergoing rehabilitation.

Overall, the use of tape on horses goes beyond just providing immediate relief. It aims to create long-term changes that enhance the horse's body awareness, circulation, muscle support, and soft tissue glide. By incorporating tape into their care routine, horse owners and trainers can help their equine partners achieve optimal health, performance, and well-being.

All these factors contribute to pain, so improving them improves pain.  

There are absolutely immediate changes and improvements, but since we’re working with the nervous system, we have to treat it as a program. 

Tape is a great, incredibly effective tool as part of an entire program. 

I wouldn’t go to the gym one time and leave with a six pack. 

Therefore I wouldn’t use one piece of tape and expect full recovery. 

Just like all rehab and injury prevention modalities, it works best when done regularly, consistently, and correctly.

The immediate improvement sure is nice though.

To learn about using kinesiology tape on horses, check out my online or in-person equine taping courses. If you want to learn more about kinesiology taping overall, check out my blog.