Kinesiology tape - how to use it?

Maybe you've seen athletes or Olympians use colored tape during a competition and stick it to different parts of the body? It is called kinesiology tape or flexible therapy tape and has many advantages. Find out more in this article!

What is Kinesiology Tape?

Also known as kinesiological taping, the idea is to provide stability to joints and muscles that are damaged or prone to pain or spasms. This method is usually used to prevent injury as well as to heal ailments and reduce pain and swelling.

Kinesiology tape is a technique that has been used for years in the world of professional sports. However, recently taping has become famous thanks to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Various athletes showed up with colored kinesiology tape on their hands, shoulders, knees and wrists.

The bandage should be applied by a physician specialized in kinesiology. Most often, the same professional who cares for the athlete uses a bandage. In addition, sometimes a physical therapist or chiropractor may apply tape.

Where to apply kinesiology tape

The tape can be applied to any part of the body that needs it, starting from the very end of the muscle and moving it to the other side, keeping the tape tight.

Stretching a muscle in this way by creating a tension on the skin allows for some kind of free space to be created between the dermis and the muscle.

As a result, blood flow increases and the injury healing process speeds up. Flexible therapy tape is a real eye-catcher with its vivid colors. However, the colors are purely for aesthetic purposes.

The rest of the tape is the same as all the rest. It is made of cotton fibers that allow air to circulate and contains self-adhesive acrylic that sticks to the skin.

Additionally, this glue activates body heat. One of the main features of a kinesiology tape is that it can extend as much as 140 percent of its original length.

The basics

This method builds on old flexible therapeutic techniques that confirm that tissues perform better when there is less fatigue or tension in the area. Therefore, more blood flow and less pressure lead to less problems and irritation and better movement.

This tape is not, as some may think, an illegal method of gaining an advantage over your opponents. For this reason, its use is permitted at national and international competitions, including the Olympic Games and world championships in various sports.

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Most athletes who use kinesiology tape do this to prevent recurring injuries, not to feel the pain of an old injury, or to recover faster despite hard muscle work during training or competition.

Therefore, athletes do not use it for no reason or simply to "move the joint more".

The benefits of kinesiology tape

Knowing that kinesiology tape increases the regenerative abilities of the human body, more and more professional athletes are using it. Muscles have the power to control many different processes. They don't just control the simple movements of the human body. In addition, they are responsible for the circulation of lymph and venous fluids, temperature regulation and much more.

How to load the tape?

Kinesiology Tape is available in three basic ways: I shape for small or linear areas; Y shape for big muscles and X shape for bigger and longer muscles.

First stretch the tape a little, then remove the protective backing from the tape. The idea is to place one end of the tape where the muscle begins and then stretch it to where you want it to relax.

The rules dictate that you should not run the tape from one end of the muscle to the other as this may cause cramps or stretches.

After application, the tape can last for about four days and does not come off under the influence of water or sweat. To remove the tape, pull it towards the body hair (previously shaved) without pulling.

In conclusion, we assure you that it is a good idea to use kinesiology tape when you get injured or feel pain in your muscles. When you do this, you will find that you can exercise without problems and speed up your recovery.