WHAT IS NEUROMUSCULAR TAPING?

NeuroMuscular Taping (NMT) is a bio mechanical therapy that uses decompression stimuli to obtain beneficial effects on musculoskeletal, vascular, lymphatic and neurological systems, for clinical and rehabilitative purposes. It is based on the application of tapes that form skin-wrinkling, which, together with body movement, facilitate lymphatic drainage, promote blood vascularity, reduce pain and improve the range of motion, improves muscle-articular coordination and consequently regulates posture.

It is a bio mechanical and sensory corrective technique that, based on the natural healing capacity of the body, promotes better blood circulation and lymphatic drainage in the treated area. NeuroMuscular Taping offers practitioners in medicine and rehabilitation a specific resource to improve the response of the subject, reducing rehabilitation time and thereby improving the quality of life of the patient.

In recent years NeuroMuscular Taping has achieved important results in post-surgical orthopedic rehabilitation and neurological rehabilitation of cerebral stroke, spinal trauma and other degenerative neurological pathologies. This high level of clinical results means that NeuroMuscular Taping is at the forefront of new therapeutic techniques.

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To date more than 18000 professionals in Italy from Hospitals, public and private clinics have adopted NeuroMuscular Taping as supportive therapy.

At times, there is a misconception that Kinesiology taping, Kinesio taping, and NeuroMuscular taping are synonymous, reflecting a limited grasp of the underlying methods and techniques. However, what sets these various taping approaches apart?

The NeuroMuscular Taping technique introduces a distinctive concept centered around decompression and dilation methodology, distinguishing it from other forms of kinesiology taping and bandaging. Originating in Italy in 2003, and created by David Blow, this novel taping approach, known as NMT, enhances the process of clinical reasoning. Its foundation lies in specific decompression taping applications, which form the core of this innovative rehabilitation method. Precise application of this technique proves effective in alleviating pain, addressing sports-related injuries, reducing muscle tension, and concurrently enhancing athletic performance, rehabilitation, as well as outcomes in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

NEUROMUSCULAR TAPING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES

NMT INSTITUTE ITALY HAS CREATED THE INNOVATIVE CONCEPT OF DECOMPRESSION TAPING CALLED “NEUROMUSCULAR TAPING” WIDELY KNOWN IN MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION.

The NMT Institute has created a treatment concept of decompression taping called “NeuroMuscular Taping” widely known in medicine and rehabilitation.The NMTConcept is used in physical rehabilitation, in sports medicine, in nursing, in speech therapy and language pathologies, in all aspects of health care. It is a therapeutic ally in the prevention of and in the active treatment of many conditions requiring increased self-healing capacity.

The “NMT Know-How” and the “Intellectual Property – NMT“ began in 2000 and consolidated during 2003 together with the creation of both the NMT concept and the NMT Institute. The Institute plays a key role in the management of precise training and in the development of specific protocols for pathologies and conditions requiring treatment. Since its creation, the NMT Institute is a benchmark for specific innovative training programs and for its involvement in numerous volunteer initiatives in various parts of the world. Through correct training the NMT Know-How is passed on to health care professionals while in collaboration with tertiary education institutions the NMT intellectual property can be shared to all.

The most difficult problem with the discussion on “Taping” research is the definition of taping. There are 2 types of taping used in the therapeutic area. One is the use of a stretched tape, resulting in a bandage or compressive taping definition. For example KT, functional taping, medical taping and so forth use a specific compression or stretched application methodology that may also be called neuromuscular bandage. Using KT methodology tape is applied with paper-off, 25,50,100, or variable tension %. We can generally afirm this technique started in the 1980-90’s. Definition of bandage is compressive and contriction creating various types of local muscle and joint stimulation also under investigation and research. KT and these types of taping applications do not create skin wrinkling as the elastic tape is always applied with some degree of tension.

The other is NeuroMuscular Taping methodology, a non-stretched tape applied over the skin in an extended position resulting in a decompressive taping definition. NeuroMuscular taping refers to a specific decompressive taping application techniques which originated in the early 2000’s in Italy. This NMT taping system is characterized by resulting skin wrinkling, skin folds or skin undulations. Also this taping application creates various types of skin, muscle, joint, sensory, vascular and tactile stimulation under study over the last decade. Hence 2 types of taping application resulting in 2 different and opposing methodologies.

All our courses in the Rehabilitation and health field issue CME credits for continuing education in medicine according to the current regulations of the Ministry of Health in the country where courses are held.

What is the difference between NeuroMuscular Taping and other forms of taping?

NeuroMuscular Taping is a form of decompression taping. There are 2 ways of using and elastic tape:

Stretching a tape – creating and concentric return of the elastic fibre found inside the tape. Applying a stretched tape in this way over the skin causes a concentric stimulation creating a compressive force over the skin. This compression creates constriction over skin, connective tissue, muscle fascia, muscle tendon, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and neural pathways. Compression limits the passage of essential blood flow and oxygenation that is fundamental to recovery in rehabilitation medicine. The definition of bandages are constrictive. Stretched taping is also constrictive. Compressive bandages or taping has no real added value to rehabilitation medicine – it is, a base line medical concept that goes back at least 2400 years. If a taping form is based on a stretched tape. Its scope in rehabilitation is consequently limited to an acute phase of trauma.
Zero Stretch Taping – creating an eccentric pushing of the tape. The opposite of concentric (pulling) is eccentric (pushing). Applying a non-stretched tape over the skin causes an eccentric stimulation creating a decompressive force over the skin. This decompression creates dilation or reduced pressure over the skin, connective tissue, muscle fascia, tendons, joints, blood and lymphatic vessels and neural pathways. Decompression and dilation facilitates the passage of essential blood flow and oxygenation that is fundamental to regeneration and recovery in rehabilitation medicine. All neurological and post surgical conditions will benefit from increased oxygenation to the affected area. The first key in improving muscle tone and to reduce muscle fatigue is to enhance blood nutrition and oxygenation to the muscle fibre.

NMT Taping methodology is a specific way of applying tape, which creates the desired effect. The real added value of NMT is oxygenation and improving blood circulation in rehabilitation medicine. All medical areas covering: Anatomy, Physiology, Sports Medicine, Traumatology, Neurology, Surgery, will support the fundamental necessity of improving oxygenation and blood flow to improve the bodies healing capacity. Stretched taping is only Ischemic. Non stretched tape is normalizing blood flow.

Key words used in NeuroMuscular Taping (NMT) as a treatment system is ECCENTRIC STIMULATION, DILATION and DECOMPRESSION.

For information, contact: info.taping@gmail.com