KINESIOLOGY TAPE Q&A

 Kinesiology Tape is something that’s cropped up on pitches all over the world recently on the legs, arms and backs of some top footy stars.

But despite these high-profile users, it’s something that’s a little bit of a mystery. We rounded up some questions for the bods at SportTape.co.uk to see if they could tell us why so many pro’s are wearing ‘K-Tape’!

Q. Starting with the big one – could you sum up what K-Tape does?

Kinesiology tape has taken the football world by storm this season. In the Premiership we regularly see players wearing Kinesiology Tape, including; Gareth Bale and Ashley Cole… but why?

Designed to mimic the skin, kinesiology tape integrates with the body’s sensory system naturally to enhance performance and aid recovery. Unlike regular athletic taping, using kinesiology tape allows freedom of motion without restricting muscles or blood flow. By allowing the muscles a larger degree of movement, the body is able to heal itself more quickly and fully than before.

Q. It sounds like there are a lot of benefits to wearing a K-Tape application, for laymen like us – how does it work?

Kinesiology tape is perfect for footballers, due to its simplicity it has a multitude of uses including; pain relief, swelling and inflammation reduction, provide structural support to joints and muscles, and enhance athletic performance.

Footballing advocates of  Kinesiology Tape include David Beckham, Ashley Cole and more recently Gareth Bale.

However it is now becoming a common sight on players throughout the country. At Sporttape, we supply a range of products including standard kinesiology tape rolls as well as our unique 13 Pre-Cuts.

The Pre-Cuts which are perfect for common football injuries are really easy to apply, are water resistant and can remain on the skin for anywhere up to 5 days.

Q. Where does the idea of Kinesiology come from? (in terms of geography)

So you may think that  Kinesiology Tape is a fairly new addition to the sports medical environment but it has been around for more than 35 years.

Created by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor in the 1970’s, Dr. Kase had been searching for a sports taping method to help heal muscle and tissue damage and realised that none of the standard tapes available at the time worked in the way he wanted.

Whilst they provided muscle and joint support, they didn’t allow for any range of motion to the joint which in turn impeded the healing process.

Q. What are the benefits of K-Tape when compared to something like a knee support?

The main benefit is that unlike a traditional knee support which limits range of movement and can impede healing; kinesiology tape allows for mobility of the joint, muscle or affected area whilst still offering support.

Q. We’ve seen the likes of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo & Many more in K-Tape after injuries – who else have you worked with recently?

At Sporttape, we have attracted the attention of a number of iconic sporting bodies in the UK, supplying national teams such as UK Athletics, British Swimming and a number of premiership rugby and football clubs with product who are all extremely impressed with the benefits they are achieving.

In addition, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid both use K-Active tape and we have even carried out training with the medical staff at Chelsea FC. We also supply the NHS with kinesiology tape.

Q. Is K-Tape something that only top-level professionals will get a benefit from?

As with most products, the early adopters are the professionals.

This is because they are partial to all the latest and best treatments. However, kinesiology tape is suitable for footballers at all levels. It can be applied easily without any associated risks and is an inexpensive form of treatment.

In fact, we believe that kinesiology tape will soon become an essential piece of kit for every footballer, much like compression clothing.

Q. How long does a K-Tape application last? Will it stay in place over a 90 minute football game?

Our tape can remain on for a number of days, as it is water resistant; however we recommend that you keep it on for a maximum of 5 days. The length of time will vary depending on the area of application.

For example, applying to the calf area can last up to 3 days (more wear and tear) whilst the postural area could last up to 5 days. But it should definitely stay in place for a 90 minute game once you follow our handy application tips:

– Don’t handle the adhesive directly

– Clean and Dry the area of application thoroughly, we have also been told by our customers that hairspray can improve adhesion further!

– Once the taps is applied, rub thoroughly to set it in place. Heat helps the adhesive work better so the more you rub the better!

– Wait approx. an hour once applied before you engage in physical activity or get the tape wet.

Q. Is K-Tape just for players recovering from injury? Or is there a benefit to wearing it wearing it at full-strength, too?

 Kinesiology Tape is really great for helping to support injuries, especially common football injuries including hamstring pulls, groin problems, calf strains and knee pain. Our best-selling Pre-Cuts for footballers cover all of these areas.

There has also been some research carried out on the tape’s effects and whether it can be used to enhance performance. It has been suggested that taping in advance of exercise promotes increased blood flow to the muscles, thereby reducing fatigue.

For more information about kinesiology tape – including handy video’s demonstrating application – visit the experts at www.sporttape.co.uk

Have you used K-tape before? How did it work out for you?

Let us know in the comments!