Over the past 6 months, I’ve had my knee taped up almost every way you could imagine. I’m starting to feel like Humpty Dumpty, only the “back together again” part isn’t quite working out yet.
Time to try another round of tape:
(That tape goes all the way through my shorts and out the top. Yes, it was as awkward as you’d think to have it put there.)
This time the kinesio tape is supposed to “deactivate” my IT band so it won’t get tight when I run.
Time to go test it out…. 
Try McConnell taping instead.
Always, and I mean always, advocate for yourself when it comes to health.
Like I mentioned the other day, I know my IT band is linked to my knee problems, but I really truly felt there was something else going on in my knee that was contributing to the problems.
After repeatedly expressing my concerns at physical therapy, the athletic trainer took a closer look at my knee. Apparently my kneecaps are “medially” situated- meaning they rest on the inside of my knee. I think this is fine. But when I flex my quad (which is one of my main PT exercises), my patella pulls laterally (aka outside). This, it seems, is bad.
Building up my quad should help control this, but because the patella’s moving, I’m having trouble strengthening it properly.
Enter taping attempting number two.
The kinesiotaping I had a few weeks ago was a major flop. Today, the trainer tried a different taping technique: McConnell taping.
The white tape is just there to protect my skin. The tan tape is pulling my kneecap from the outside of my knee towards the inside.
It looks pointless.
But folks, I think we’re on to something.
I didn’t realize how much it bothered my knee to walk through a full range of motion until I had the tape on- I kept waiting for that familiar twinge of pain with each step, but it didn’t come. Woohooo!
Now, I’ve only had it on for about an hour, but I’m hopeful. YAY!
Anyways, packing tips coming up in the next post- I thought it was only right that I actually pack before posting my tips. Tip 1: don’t try to pack with the power out. 😉
