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What is kinesiology tape?
Kinesiology tape has been used to successfully treat sports people since the 1970’s. However, it is only since the Beijing and London Olympics that kinesiology tape has started to media recognition.
Kinesiology tape is made from tightly woven elasticated cotton fibres, backed with a hypoallergenic acrylic glue, it is highly durable and waterproof so the tape can be worn for up to a week withstanding vigorous movement, sweat and total immersion in water. Importantly the tape is 100% natural and does not contain any medication or drugs – all the benefits come from the tape’s elasticity.
How does kinesiology tape work?
In theory kinesiology tape works in several ways to provide pain relief, reduce swelling, assist range of movement and give structural support:
- Take pressure off painful areas, this reduces the tension through weak or inflammed muscles and tendons reducing the pain and further damage caused if the patient has to continue to use the joints, for work, day to day activities etc.
- Relax muscles, depending how it is applied the tape is thought to activate stretch receptors in the skin which feed back to influence the control of the muscle tension under the skin or activate muscle spindles within the muscle which would increase the activity and endurance of the muscle.
- Promote blood and lymphatic. When applied to the skin with stretch the tape naturally wants to recoil. As a result it lifts the skin and fascia to allow blood and lymph flow to increase which is thought to speed up the heeling process.
Who’s using kinesiology tape now?
Kinesiology taping has been practiced for more than 30 years however it is only in the last few that we’ve seen mainstream adoption. We started to retail kinesiology tape in 2010 however some members of our team have been using it for over a decade.
No longer perceived as an alternative treatment, kinesiology taping is now widely adopted by physical therapists and is being used by everyone from Sunday league footballers to some of the worlds biggest sports stars.
But does it work?
At SPORTTAPE we don't make any sensational claims about our kinesiology tape, we like to think we're different from other brands! We’ve seen some amazing results and are continually surprised by the effects of SPORTTAPE.However, the truth is that although kinesiology tape has been used by millions of people worldwide, its popularity has been gained via clinical effectiveness to reduce pain and enhance performance rather than hard evidence.
There exists several theories as to how kinesiology tape works and there have been numerous studies but none have proved conclusive. To that effect we’re supporting several research projects in 2013 & beyond.
We wont lie to you, kinesiology tape doesn’t work for everyone. This can be for a multitude of reasons but often it’s down to incorrect application techniques or unrealistic expectations. Therefore we would always recommend that you visit a specialist first and study our user guides before applying the tape. As ever if you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.