Kinesio Taping Guide and Discussion

I've been noticing a ton of buzz lately regarding Kinesio Taping... and man, so many people seem really eager to jump into these courses... I even spotted on this site that they're running a training session—and apparently through the APTA!?!?

Now, look, it sounds great on paper, but there's a catch—this isn't actually a course recognized by the official Kinesio Taping Association, and you won't find any certified INSTRUCTORS from the actual Kinesio Taping company teaching it...

If you're looking for a LEGIT course—one where you actually walk away with a REAL Kinesio certificate and the right study materials—my advice is to head over to www.kinesiotapingitalia.it to check out when and where the official, LEGAL workshops are happening...

Honestly, I wouldn't have even caught onto this whole scam if it wasn't for a colleague of mine who works with Kinesio Taping—he gave me a heads-up to steer clear of that FAKE course because the "diploma" they hand out is basically just good for lighting a campfire. 🙂

Honestly, you’re probably not going to find a better course here in the States. Besides, Bruno Cosim is a top-tier physiotherapist and has been running taping workshops for a long time now. He’s actually a pretty big deal over at the APTA.

If you look at his bio, it says he became a CKTI through the Kinesio Taping Association in Japan back in 2003. You can check out his full CV right here: http://209.85.129.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=5&gl=hr

Just a heads-up, Kinesio Tape is really just a brand name. They were the ones who pioneered these tapes, but nowadays there are plenty of manufacturers out there, all offering their own "licensed" courses for their specific brands. For me, when I'm looking at continuing education, it's all about the actual knowledge—I don't care much about the piece of paper itself. Personally, I use both Strintex and Kinesio tape, and they're basically the exact same thing. Beatty Carrier runs the courses for Strintex, though I'm not sure when she'll be back in the US... She really knows her stuff, too; she’s written some fantastic books, like one on the Swiss ball which was one of the first guides on using them in rehab.

I think you might be mistaken here...
That degree really does matter—just imagine spending four years grinding through college only to get a handshake and a "Congrats, you're educated, too bad you can't actually prove it to anyone" at the end. 🙂

Anyway... regarding that Kinesio Taping course... it’s being held right here in the States by a legitimate, licensed pro—and I've actually looked into the specifics...

Vincent DeBono, DC, NSCA, CKTIvdebono@nuhs.edu

Vincent DeBono, DC, NSCA, CKTI is the Vice President of Academic Services at National University of Health Sciences and a CKTI. He is certified by the NSCA as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He's a huge runner, too—he's knocked out five marathons and six triathlons. He graduated from NUHS in 1989.

2006-Present: Vice President of Academic Services at National University of Health Sciences

2005 to 2006: Dean of Clinics, National University of Health Sciences, Lombard Clinic, 200 East Roosevelt Road, Lombard, IL 60418.

Duties Include: Chief of Staff of all clinical faculty. Responsible for NUHS Administration of the clinical education programs for interns within the NUHS clinic system. Responsible for NUHS Administration of policy and procedures for all clinical faculty of NUHS clinic systems.

He'll be coming to the US in May to run a course where you actually get a diploma, the original literature, and everything else you'd expect from a legitimate training program....

And honestly... if anyone thinks a knockoff is just as good as the real thing... forget about it. I've personally tested several different brands... and let me tell you, the Kinesio Tex registered trademark is hands-down the best tape out there for Kinesiotaping.

Anyone claiming otherwise clearly hasn't worked with the genuine stuff... and if you check the prices, you'll see the original isn't even more expensive than the fakes—it's actually cheaper!

Bottom line... I know I'm not buying my gear from overseas shady sites... would you?

You’d honestly be surprised at just how widespread Kinesio Tex tape has become... It's definitely not just limited to Japan anymore.
BTW, that webpage only lists American instructors—it doesn't include the ones who are certified through the original Japanese association. But honestly, it doesn't matter much; just send over the info once you have the details on that course. I actually know two girls who are interested...

Check out this page www.natalis-n.com—it has all the details about the course.

I actually went ahead and reached out to the folks in Italy myself... gave them a call and had a real conversation with him...

He told me that Natalis-N—a firm based out of Pula—is the authorized distributor for Kinesio Tex here, and they’re organizing the course alongside Natalis-N and an instructor coming straight from the States
who is traveling to Europe (specifically Italy and the US) just for this purpose (to run the KT1 and KT2 courses)...

We're talking actual AMERICAN INSTRUCTORS.... because Americans have basically taken full control of the whole thing, mostly to deal with those "wild west" types 👎 ... anyway... I heard heads are going to roll over these scammers, and apparently, things are already heading toward the courts... well, you know how people say: "you get what you pay for." 🙂 👍

Does anyone know where I can pick up some Kinesio Tape around the area? Any recommendations? 😕

Is there seriously nobody here???
I can't believe it—unless everyone is just keeping it a professional secret, 🤣?

Found it (completely on my own) 👍

You’re basically just giving free advertising to your wife, Natalia Divković, so she can promote her own course for her own benefit...
Wait, what are you even basing this on—that international instructor Bruno Cosim isn't an instructor anymore? Look, Natalia Divković took the Kinesio Taping course from Bruno Cosim. So, does that mean her certification isn't recognized anymore? Honestly, have some shame... you guys are just shooting yourselves in the foot here.
Bruno Cosim moved from the American association your wife promotes over to a European kinesio taping association—so there's no "fraud" involved at all.
And just so you and your wife know—the APTA is the representative body for physical therapy in the US, and they're the ones who validate certifications for continuing education for physiotherapists.
By the way, you also changed the number of training hours—you cut a day off both the first and second levels of Kinesio Taping. It’s pretty obvious the schedule doesn't add up anymore... so we'll be suggesting to the APTA that they don't recognize this education.

wiredowl9 said:Honestly, you're basically just running free ads for your wife, Natalia Divković—using her course to push her own private interests.
Can someone explain why international instructor Bruno Cosim isn't considered an instructor anymore? I mean—Natalia Divković took her Kinesiotaping course directly from him. So now, apparently, her certification just doesn't count? Honestly, shame on us—we're basically just tripping ourselves up at this point.
Bruno Cosim actually moved from that American association your wife supports over to the European one for Kinesio Taping—so, really, there's no reason to call him a fraud.
Just so you know—for both your information and your wife's—the APTA acts as the official representative for physical therapy here in the US, and they're the ones who actually handle the validation of all those extra certifications for physiotherapists.
By the way—they actually changed the training hours and cut a whole day off both the Level 1 and Level 2 Kinesiotaping courses—and honestly, looking at the schedule, it just doesn't add up. Because of that, we’re going to suggest to the APTA that they don't grant accreditation for this training.

I honestly have no clue where you get the idea that Natalia Divković is my wife—not sure where that came from! 🤣🤣
You might have been misinformed on that one—honestly, I think there might be a bit of a misunderstanding here. 😂
I honestly don't buy that this is being organized for private interests—not when you consider who's actually behind it.
Regarding the Kinesio Taping Association—I'm actually not sure where exactly Natalia took her course—but if she did, it was likely through the Kinesio Taping Association itself... and look, I never said Bruno Cosim isn't an instructor—I certainly didn't say he was bad, quite the opposite, actually—what I meant was that this specific session wasn't a Kinesio Taping COURSE with an official CERTIFICATE from the Kinesio Taping Association, which is just the plain truth.
Look, I don't know what exactly was changed or wasn't—I just care about what's legitimate. For me, the only thing that matters is knowing where the actual knowledge comes from and where you get the official certificate... but clearly, you're focused on something else entirely.

Where is Bruno Cosim these days? Honestly, I haven't a clue... and as for getting that course recognized—I don't think the APTA is the one to ask here—it would be more about whoever is actually representing the course, if I recall correctly. www.kinesiotaping.com And if you honestly think someone is pulling strings behind the scenes over there... you should really go check it out for yourself. Check out this link—it’s all about the international side of things regarding Kinesio Taping: http://www.kinesiotapingitalia.it/de...ernational.asp Or just give Paul a call... and vent all that frustration to him. 🙂

Looks like that post really got under your skin—you must have some kind of grudge against Natalia and her husband... or maybe—wait—against me? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 🤣

wiredowl9, I had to delete two of your posts because the exact same message was submitted three times in a row...

Sandra Castillo30 said:I have no idea where you got the idea that Natalia Divković is my wife... 🤣🤣
You might have been misinformed on that one... 😂
I honestly don't buy that this is being organized for private interests—not when you consider who's actually behind it...
Regarding the Kinesio Taping Association—where exactly did Natalia take that course? I'm not entirely sure, but if she did, it likely happened through the Kinesio Taping Association itself... And look, I never said Bruno Cosim isn't an instructor... I definitely didn't say he was bad—actually, quite the opposite—I just meant this wasn't a Kinesio Taping COURSE with an official CERTIFICATE from the Kinesio Taping Association, which is the absolute truth...
I don't know what’s been updated or what hasn't—all I care about is knowing what's legitimate, where to get the actual certification, and where the real knowledge comes from... that's my only priority. It seems like you're clearly focused on something else entirely...

Where is Bruno Cosim these days? Honestly, I wouldn't even know... as for getting that course recognized—I don't think the APTA is the one making those calls. It’s probably more up to whoever actually represents the course itself, if I recall correctly... www.kinesiotaping.com ...and if you think anyone's running a shady operation over there... you should probably go take a look for yourself... Check this out—some info regarding international organizations... http://www.kinesiotapingusa.com/international.asp Or just give Paul a call... vent to him if you need to... 🙂

Looks like that post really got you fired up—you must have some kind of beef with Natalia and her husband... or maybe just with me... 🤣🤣🤣🤣 🤣

I don't think I'm misinformed—it’s more like my intuition is kicking in... especially since you have all the details about the course from Natalia Divković, and she hasn't even posted that info on her website yet—the one you showed us in your previous message...

So, Natalia—who’s actually organizing this current course under the organization's umbrella—just finished her Kinesiotaping training with Bruno Cosim... the same guy you're claiming doesn't have a recognized certification...

I just want to understand—how exactly do you think they’ll ban the diploma or certificate here in the States? Who’s going to refuse to recognize it... maybe Natalia Divković? And who even is Natalia Divković? Is she some kind of regulatory body in America that handles credentialing...

I honestly think you and Natalia Divković have completely mixed up your priorities—it feels like you're just playing marketing games to boost your own sales by throwing everyone else under the bus...
That’s just not how you win at life—and I have a feeling Natalia Divković is going to realize that pretty soon...
You're the one who started talking nonsense about Bruno Cosim—I'm not here to get caught up in your terrible marketing of Natalia Divković on this forum... I just need to set the record straight so the general public doesn't walk away with the wrong impression...
Like another forum member pointed out earlier in this thread—there are actually quite a few different International Organizations that host Kinesiotaping workshops, not just the one you're representing...

The Kinesio Taping course led by Bruno Cosim is actually the only officially recognized training program in the country—yet here you are, questioning the legitimacy of the course organized by Natalia Divković over in the States...

Just wanted to satisfy your curiosity, dear colleague

I actually found out about the course because I was browsing kinesiotaping.com online—I saw that Italy was the closest country to the US dealing with Kinesio Taping—so I searched for Kinesiotaping on www.google.it and ended up on the page www.kinesiotapingitalia.it
I called the number listed on the site and spent nearly half an hour talking to a Mr. Paul... he was a really kind guy, by the way... and during our chat, he walked me through all the details—the courses, the accreditation, all that good stuff..

I honestly don't get why you're dragging Natalia into this when she has absolutely nothing to do with it here... but since you've gone ahead and called her out so harshly... it would be nice if you introduced yourself too, especially since you claim to have such great INTUITION 🤣

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU JUST WROTE?

3. I’d just like to know how you think a diploma or certificate is going to be banned here in the States. Who isn't going to recognize it? Maybe Natalia Divković? And who is Natalia Divković? Is it some regulatory body in the US responsible for recognizing diplomas and certificates?

And who said anything about a diploma or certificate being banned?! Seriously, maybe don't consume anything before you start posting on the forum 🙏

You’re the one looking for bans (oh, excuse me, Madam Regulatory Body)... look at what you wrote:
By the way, you guys changed the number of training hours—shortened the first and second levels of Kinesio Taping by a day—which clearly doesn't match the required schedule, so we’re going to suggest to the APTA that they don't recognize this training.

And it’s not clear to me who "YOU" are 🤣 SOME KIND OF SECRET SOCIETY? Who exactly knows how many hours of Kinesio Taping are required?
Again, I’m telling you, check what you wrote in your last post before you write a new one.

I have no idea how you know whether someone succeeded or failed, or will succeed or fail... it makes me wonder if you're reading tarot cards over your morning coffee or taking some wild psychology course or something?...

Another quote:
You started badmouthing Bruno Cosim, so I'm not interested in Natalia Divković's poor marketing on this forum; I just need to clarify things so the general public doesn't get the wrong impression.

Either you're completely blind or you're just pretending to be... I really don't get it... but you're slowly forming impressions, and my impression of you isn't exactly great—it's actually getting worse....... I already told you that I don't consider Mr. Bruno to be a bad instructor at all (even though I haven't met him personally, I've heard plenty of good things), and I have no idea why you're claiming I was badmouthing him... I am telling you AGAIN that the courses Bruno teaches aren't licensed by the MAIN Kinesio Taping organization that holds the license for the tapes and the name... unless you have some data you can show me to prove otherwise?! 🙄

I don't know who is badmouthing whom here... just look again at what you wrote... good grief, I've lost count of how many times you've contradicted yourself... look at this:
Actually, you're basically providing free advertising for your wife, Natalia Divković, who organizes this course for her own private interests.
Tell me, on what basis is international instructor Bruno Cosim no longer an instructor? Since Natalia Divković took a Kinesio Taping course from Bruno Cosim, does that mean her diploma isn't recognized anymore? Have some shame; you're just tripping over your own feet.

First, you talk nonsense about Natalia being my wife and all this supposed advertising,
then you talk about me badmouthing people... maybe check who is actually doing the badmouthing and how... because the impressions
you're creating are really for the general public... 🤣 no comment

And Mr. Bruno isn't an international instructor based on the Kinesio Taping organization operating in America that is connected to Japan, which—for some reason—no longer recognizes him as an instructor. But since the "international APTA organization" isn't being counted here, that means Mr. Bruno is still an international instructor for the "international APTA Kinesio Taping" group.🤣 With branches all over the world... wait, where's POLAND listed? ...Oops, I didn't see where you mentioned that—could you enlighten me a bit? I’d really appreciate it. ☕

Maybe try a quick search online... you might actually surprise yourself 👍 Anyone who’s following this thread—just go online and look up Kinesiotaping... you know what you'll find?
www.kinesiotaping.com ...If you have another official site, please, just drop it here.

Honestly, I've been through plenty of courses—some legitimate ones and some "LEGITIMATE" ones—so I've learned how to do my own homework and protect myself.

I started this whole thread just out of good intentions toward my colleagues.
And honestly, I don't get why you're getting defensive—are you running courses or selling tape? 😕 If you've got Kinesio Tex or a licensed course that's actually authentic and reasonably priced, then by all means, post an ad so people can find you.

I want to apologize to everyone who got dragged into this because of you... it wasn't
my intention to badmouth anyone—anyone with common sense will see that if they read through everything here.

Cheers from an INFORMED colleague. 👍

http://www.fisiobrain.com/ftopic-2200-0.html

There's a whole discussion going on right here on this forum... though I'm not sure who's actually worth reading, especially if you don't speak Italian!

And this is straight from the official English site... I mean, there's no way they'd go out of their way to mention that instructor if he wasn't actually licensed, or at least hadn't been at some point...

http://www.kinesiotaping.co.uk/sports/olympics2004.jsp

Casey Palmer5 said:http://www.fisiobrain.com/ftopic-2200-0.html

There’s a whole discussion on this forum—if you knew who to read or if you actually spoke Italian, that is.

So, I took a quick look at this forum in Italian—and honestly, if I decided to translate it all and post it here, wiredowl9 might just end it all... 🙂 ...so it’s probably best if I don't add anything else... except for this: if you want your cars to be branded as Mercedes-Benz, you can't just shove a Fiat engine in there... that pretty much sums it up.

What kind of topic is this even.. 🙏

You could have at least mentioned in these first 15 posts what on earth this "Chinese tapir" thing—or whatever it's called—actually is.

I clicked one of the links you provided and just saw some guy covered in duct tape.

Come on, give us some actual differences. How do these "certified" instructors differ from the ones without the credentials?

Found it! 😬

The Kinesio Taping method has truly carved out its own space in rehabilitation and sports medicine globally. It was originally developed by Dr. Kenso Kas about 25 years ago in Japan.

Nowadays, Kinesio Taping has basically become the gold standard for therapeutic rehab taping.
The whole technique is built around supporting the body's natural healing process—essentially by activating the neurological and motor systems. We aren't just telling muscles how to move; we’re helping them manage circulation, venous and lymphatic fluids, body temperature, and more.

When you apply Kinesio Taping, you use this special Kinesio Tex tape that actually mimics the properties of your skin. You can apply it with different levels of tension depending on what's needed.
But look, KT isn't just about "applying tape." It’s a whole new philosophy for treating muscle dysfunction, reducing edema, and managing pain by addressing the individual's fundamental physiological state. Whether it's treating sports injuries, swelling, or just dulling pain, it's incredibly versatile.
It’s widely used all over Asia and the USA.

I remember during the 2004 Athens Olympics, you could see KT being used successfully by so many athletes. Here in the States, plenty of pros rely on it—guys like Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, and countless other football players, basketball stars, tennis pros, and gymnasts...

In a lot of cases, using KT is a massive step forward because it allows the skin to work more independently, which significantly cuts down
recovery time and helps boost overall physical performance. The best part? The KT method lets a person soak up the benefits of the therapy 24 hours a day for several days straight.

You'll see Kinesio Taping being used everywhere from hospitals and clinics to pro training studios and athletic teams. Plus, it works great when paired with other therapies like
cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, or electrical stimulation.

That's pretty interesting. Honestly, my gut instinct would be to be skeptical about all this... but hey, if Tiger Woods is using it, I guess it must be legit. 😁

My only fear is that the tape might rip all my hair out! 😕

Well... after weighing all the options, I’ve come to the conclusion that the most sensible move is to opt for a Kinesio Taping course that comes directly with official certification. After all, at the end of the day,
you receive a credential issued by the very organization that owns the product and the brand name itself, rather than some generic seminar organized by an entity like the APTA.
The APTA... well, isn't that essentially just an association?
Anyone can go out and start an association; there are associations for fighting alcoholism, groups for quitting smoking, even clubs for enthusiasts of
animals and such... you get the idea.
Ultimately, it’s wise for everyone to act according to their own convictions.
It is quite peculiar, though, how wiredowl9 has become so intensely embroiled in this debate, especially considering this is her very first post on the forum. Granted, this is my first
post as well, but I actually went looking for information regarding available courses, stumbled upon this page, read through everything, and decided I ought to contribute my own
perspective...
One might almost suspect that wiredowl9 was simply waiting for a thread about Kinesiotaping courses to surface before finally deciding to register on the forum.
...it truly seems as if the opening of this particular thread hit a bit of a nerve for her.

Best regards from physiotherapist Jose Garcia2.

Sandra Castillo30 said:so I was browsing through this Italian forum earlier... if I actually translated it and posted it here, wiredowl9 might just end it all 🙂 .... so maybe it's best if I don't say anything more ... unless, of course, you want your cars to be Fords but try to cram General Motors engines into them .... that really sums it up.

There's really no reason for me to go that far..
this is just one of many sites out there dedicated to 3M, where everyone claims they're the only authorized experts.
lahor shared a page showing that Bruno Mars is a certified instructor for 3M.
first off, I completed all my training under Bruno Mars—so I have to push back against these baseless accusations about certification.
Second, Bruno was actually the first instructor in Europe to get licensed by the Japanese organization for 3M. A few weeks ago, that Japanese group went bankrupt, and now one branch moved to the USA while others are scattered across Europe. I highly doubt the American Physical Therapy Association would allow an unlicensed instructor to run a course.
I've already sent a formal inquiry to the American Physical Therapy Association to get some clarity on this...