Ever since members of the U.S. Women’s Olympic volleyball team caught the world’s attention with strangely colored tape adorning their skin, the world has been buzzing about “Kinesio Taping.”

This cutting-edge sports medicine technique may be new to the general population but it is not new to students and physicians at National University of Health Sciences. For one reason, the inventor of Kinesio Taping, Dr. Kenzo Kase, is a 1974 graduate of NUHS.

Additionally, two NUHS faculty, Vincent De Bono, DC, vice president for academic services, and David Parish, DC, dean of clinics, are internationally known educators in this method and are Certified Kinesio Taping Instructors by Kinesio USA, LLC.

Since its development by Dr. Kase nearly 25 years ago in Japan, Kinesio Taping has become the standard for therapeutic taping not only in the U.S., but internationally as well. This method of taping uses a uniquely designed and patented tape for treatment of muscular disorders and lymphedema reduction. Since the introduction of Kinesio Taping into the U.S., the method has currently 16,000 website-registered medical practitioners from PTs, OTs, DCs, ATCs, MDs, and recently MTs, who have recognized and embraced this effective, safe and easy-to-use modality.

The method allows the individual to wear the tape and receive its therapeutic benefits on a 24-hour-per-day basis and for several days per application. The KT Method involves taping over and around muscles in order to assist and give muscle support, or to prevent over-contraction of the muscles.

“The Kinesio Taping method is not just for athletes,” says NUHS’ Dr. Vincent DeBono. “It is commonly used in everyday practice to treat overuse injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, neck and low back pain, rotator cuff impingement, bursitis, and inflammation as well as many other conditions.”

The university’s current curriculum includes hands-on application of Kinesio Taping during several courses and during students’ clinical internship. The university’s on-campus clinic is open to the public and boasts several experts in the field of chiropractic sports medicine, as well as rehabilitation facilities and a human performance lab modeled after Olympic training centers. “If athletes want to try Kinesio Taping for themselves, we can assist them with an appointment in our clinic,” says Dr. David Parish, who is not only a chiropractic physician but also a certified strength and conditioning specialist and holds a diplomate in chiropractic sports medicine.