The Power of an Elastic Wrap
What are your thoughts? Why do such seemingly innocuous interventions sooth our patients so?
What can an Ace Wrap really do? As a physical therapist, I see many patients with joint-related complaints, usually pain or feelings of instability Some have seen their PCP or specialist, others came to me first. Most have gotten advice from friends, family, and the dreaded Dr. Google and come to me with ideas as to what is wrong with their body part. Some resort to an old-fashioned Ace Wrap or pull on elastic sleeve-type support that they purchased at a drug store. I was always pretty skeptical about these products, believing that they could offer nothing in the way of real support, but yet time after time my patients tell me stories to the contrary.
"The pain is less"
"I feel like I have more support"
"C'mon, its nothing but an elastic sleeve or wrap. There are no metal stays on the inside/outside of the knee to keep it from feeling unstable", says I.
But these things work, or seem to work, which makes them work, right? Why so? It could be a placebo effect. They are doing something for themselves that they feel will be helpful, therefore it becomes helpful, which is not a bad thing. The slip on brace or wrap could make them more mindful or cautious about the ways they move, so as not to trigger the pain. But as I have moved beyond the explanatory models given to me for the myofascial release and manual therapy I utilize, I have been given keys to how self interventions like these may work. Readers of this blog will find many past articles where I outline these concepts, as will therapists who have taken one of my seminars. Both an elastic wrap and pull on elastic sleeve provide some measure of grip to the skin via the elastic components of the applied product. This may be little different than the skin stretch I advocate in my classes and that was taught to me by Diane Jacobs, PT. It also greatly resembles the simple method of taping I use for pain. A light skin stretch, neuromodulatory in nature, often lessens pain and can calm the nervous system (Ruffini stimulation decreased sympathetic dominance), so maybe elastic wraps and sleeves do the same?
What are your thoughts? Why do such seemingly innocuous interventions sooth our patients so?
For now,
Walt Fritz, PT
