Apr
It’s almost impossible to watch a polo or equestrian event these days without seeing one or more athletes wearing brightly colored strips of tape in interesting patterns on knees, shoulders, elbows and more. This special tape is called kinesiology tape and it appears to have all but replaced the traditional white sports tape that athletes have relied on for years.
If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re probably wondering what is it about kinesiology tape that has made it so popular and what makes it different from other types of athletic tape.
Elastic therapeutic tape, also called kinesiology tape or kinesiology therapeutic tape, Kinesio tape, k-tape, or KT is an elastic cotton strip with an acrylic adhesive that eases pain and disability from athletic injuries and a variety of other physical disorders.
The greatest differences between kinesiology tape and other sport tapes can be seen in the method of application. While traditional sports tape is typically wrapped tightly around an injured area, kinesiology tape is applied over and around the borders of muscles and joints.
While most types of athletic tape have little or no stretch, kinesiology tape is very elastic, able to stretch longitudinally up to 60%. The acrylic adhesive is much gentler on skin than conventional tape and seldom causes skin irritation or breakdown. It does not require the use of a protective prewrap to prevent skin damage, and can be applied directly to unbroken skin on any part of the body.
With minor changes in the method of application, kinesiology taping techniques can be used for multiple purposes:
- to provide support for weak or injured muscles without affecting the normal range of motion. This allows full participation in therapeutic exercises and/or sports training, minimizing the risk of developing compensatory imbalances or injuries.
- to activate muscles that have been weakened after injury or surgery, improving the quality of contractions and speeding up the recovery process
- to inhibit muscles that are tight, fatigued or overused, allowing them to relax and recover faster
- to correct postural imbalances affecting the quality of movement
- to create a negative pressure in inflammed tissues, encouraging lymphatic drainage to relieve edema and improve circulation to speed healing
Kinesio Tape is also used on horses. The use of complementary therapies is becoming common in equine athletes and the discovery of Kinesio taping potential brought it into the animal world.
Kinesio taping can be used to treat a wide range of clinical conditions, from tendon injuries to neurologic disorders and from muscle contractures to postural insufficiencies.
Kinesiology tape is a remarkable therapeutic modality that can benefit a wide variety of sports injuries and health conditions. It is inexpensive and relatively easy to use. Even individuals with no medical background can easily learn basic application techniques for many physical issues. While it does not replace rigid taping methods such as the McConnell Taping Technique, it expands the role of athletic taping from simply preventing further injury through immobilization to becoming a true therapeutic modality that assists in healing and recovery.
Zack’s Tack now stocks a no-frills Kinesio Tape, sold at a great price of RM38.00 per roll.
