Arthritic thumb (OA) - try this superb Kinesio taping technique

John Gibbons is a registered Osteopath, Lecturer and Author and is discussing how to apply kinesiology tape for osteoarthritis for the base of the thumb (OA) and this is the trapezium bone and is part of the carpometacarpal joint (CMC). These techniques plus more are covered on the Kinesiology Taping course at the University of Oxford.

John also has Hip videos and he discusses an acetabular labral tear and also a femoroacetabular impingement called an FAI - these are cam and pincer type of impingement. He also mentions perthes disease and osteoarthritis of the hip joint. John also discusses how the hip flexors (psoas) are involved and the iliofemoral ligaments and how they cause an inhibition to the gluteus maximus (Gmax) through the hip extension firing pattern test. Janda and the lower crossed syndrome is also mentioned and how this can cause lower back, facet or disc pathology of L5 or L5 and involve the nerve roots.

John also shows you in his other videos to assess the nerve root level of the adductors (obturator nerve through L3 reflex), patella tendon (femoral nerve through L4 reflex), semitendinosus (tibial / sciatic nerve of L5 reflex) and Achilles / plantar (tibial nerve of sciatic through S1 reflex) and a normal response is classified as 2++. Any reduced hypo-reflex (1+) or increased hyper-reflex (3+++) with Clonus and Babinski positive as might indicate some form of upper motor neurone lesion like Multiple sclerosis, stroke, spinal cord tumour or brain injury.

These techniques and more is taught on the Shoulder and Cervical Master-Class at the University of Oxford.

In terms of his courses he offers, you can attend one at a time if you prefer or book all ten and receive a discount. Once you have completed all the courses you will be able to call yourself a Bodymaster Method ® Practitioner and be registered on his website with the letters 'BmP' after your name.

John is the Author of the highly successful book and Amazon No 1 best seller called 'Muscle Energy Techniques, a practical guide for physical therapists'. John has also written many more books and these include:

1. A Practical Guide to Kinesiology Taping and comes with a complimentary DVD.
2. The Vital Glutes, connecting the gait cycle to pain and dysfunction
3. Functional Anatomy of the Pelvis, SI joint & lumbar spine
4. The Vital Shoulder Complex
5. 2nd Edition of Kinesiology Taping
6. The Vital Nerves (released Oct 2020)

John now offers Advanced Training in all aspects of Sports Medicine to already qualified therapists (athletic trainers, sports massage therapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists, physical therapists, personal trainers, pilates teaches etc) in manual therapy to 'Diploma' Level. You need to have attended all of his ten individual Therapy Courses before the diploma is awarded. His venue is based at the idyllic venue of Oxford University, home of the first four-minute mile by Roger Bannister.

1. Spinal Manipulation & Mobilisation
2. Advanced Spinal Manipulation
3. Kinesiology Taping
4. Muscle Energy Techniques
5. The Vital Shoulder Complex
6. The Vital Cervical spine
7. The Vital hip & groin
8. The Vital Knee
9. Advanced Soft Tissue techniques
10. The Vital Neurological system
11. Pelvis, SIJ & Lumbar spine
12. The Vital Glutes & Psoas
13. Acupuncture & Dry needling

The Bodymaster Method ® Diploma is now recognised as a training provider and accredited with the STO - Sports Therapy Organisation

[mattwarren]

John, this technique will be added to what I have been doing the past two years, it’s interesting ever time I watch a new video...how one thing I had not seen before may help...currently I have no cartridge on the trapezium as it was injured during a fall several years ago...use Volteran Gel on a daily basis..and wrap my thumb for Golf or other strenuous activities....I find using rubbing alcohol before applying the Tape helps with the adhesion of the tape to the skin...Appreciate your techniques with regard to cutting a triangle out for the thumb and running the tape up the arm...be well and thanks again..

[nancyangel]

All this does is prolong what you end up having to do, and that is surgery! I suffered for three years with shots, etc. I had the surgery two weeks ago. I'm in the recovery stage. I look forward to being pain free.

[lizlisle]

I'm trying this out. I'm avoiding surgery at all costs. I practise karate and make fists all the time. I wonder if surgery would prevent me from punching ever again?

[bdogngal]

I finally got it done and it does feel better. Took me forever to figure out because it was a left hand facing me. Might have been better if the person sat across from you and everything was filmed from behind her back so you could demonstrate on the hand that way. Probably would have made it quicker and easier for me.

[juliebenson]

I have quite an allergic reaction to most tapes. Is there one that is safe to use?

[latashawiller]

I tried it and my thumb doesn't feel supported at all, my wrist does though

[artsbydebi]

thank you for this
??? is there a difference of strength in the colors or are you just showing that you need two lengths

[ChelyDawn]

Would this work for irritation between the thumb and forefinger maybe 1/2” above the wrist?

[BT-kmnl]

this is an overexaggarated “push ortoz” mimic. basically it will work but cannot treat the problem.

[georgeb.wolffsohn]

What I don't like about this technic is the pressure it puts directly on the locus of pain in basal joint OA. How can you modify this to decrease that problem ?

[mrbillhicks]

Sod walking around with that all the time..

[kitt]

"Cut it so it looks like this" - doesn't show camera. Amateur hour.