DeLand, Fla., February 4, 2009 - What do David Beckham, Lance Armstrong, 2008 Olympics and Lymphedema patients have in common? Kinesio Taping.

Lymphedema, which affects an estimated 3 million Americans, is abnormal swelling of the tissues that occurs when the lymphatic system fails to develop properly, or has been damaged or surgically altered, such as during breast cancer treatment. Most commonly found in arms or legs, lymphedema also affects the trunk, breast, abdomen, neck, head and or genitals.

“We offer a comprehensive program for lymphedema management, including Kinesio Taping,” said Nicole Scheiman, a certified lymphedema and Kinesio Taping occupational therapist. “Though lymphedema is incurable, it is readily treatable. Kinesio Taping is an effective addition to hands-on lymphedema treatment and compressive therapy."

Kinesio Taping® is a treatment utilizing highly specialized elastic tape, which has proven to be helpful in reducing localized swelling associated with surgery, sports injuries, acute trauma and lymphedema.

"The results since starting my lymphedema program have been tremendous. By following the program, I can now start doing the things I enjoy again, like walking," said Flora B. Palm, lymphedema patient at Florida Hospital DeLand.

The tape was developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase and has taken professional sports by storm as athletes use the tape to give their muscles more elasticity. It's been seen on athletes such as David Beckham and Lance Armstrong, as well as throughout the 2008 Olympics; however, Kinesio Taping is also sweeping the lymphedema world as an effective and exciting modality that compliments other "standard" treatments.

Florida Hospital DeLand is one of the few hospitals in Volusia County who offers Kinesio Taping as part of their lymphedema rehabilitation program.

Although the tape is available for sale online, experimenting with its use in treating lymphedema is not advised. It is important to have a full evaluation by a certified lymphedema therapist trained in this method.

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Learn more about Kinesio Taping at www.kinesiotaping.com.

Florida Hospital DeLand, located at 701 West Plymouth Avenue in DeLand, was established in 1962 and is a 156-bed acute-care hospital. Florida Hospital DeLand is a part of the Adventist Health System; the largest Protestant not-for-profit hospital system in the nation and works to provide exceptional, patient-focused care to the DeLand community.