Athletic Tape Info Center
Kinesiology Taping for Rehabilitation & Sports Performance
Archive for March, 2010
The Easiest Way to Tape a Hamstring Injury
posted by Tape Expert
The SpiderTech Tape company has created a comprehensive line of precut kinesiology tape applications for different parts of the body. Each application comes individually packaged with illustrated step-by-step instructions. These therapeutic tape products provide a convenient and inexpensive way for non-health professionals to apply kinesiology tape effectively. This is the second in a series of blogs describing the different SpiderTech applications, their uses and how to apply them.
SpiderTech Hamstring Spider Benefits
♦ Relieves pain and swelling from hamstring injuries
♦ Speeds recovery after intense exercise
♦ Provides protection as hamstring injuries heal
♦ Improves strength of injured hamstring muscles
♦ Provides support without restricting range of motion
♦ Prevents or relieves cramps, spasms or stiffness
♦ Assists with hamstring/quadriceps imbalance
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Application Instructions for Pre-Cut Hamstring Kinesiology Tape
Begin by tearing all of the perforations on the backing of the tape. Clean the skin with soap and water or rubbing alcohol before applying tape.
1. Subject should be lying on stomach with leg relaxed. Remove half of the backing from section 1 and apply to the rear thigh, directly below the gluteal fold. Repeat with the other half of section 1. Gently rub the tape to activate the adhesive.
2. Place the hamstring muscles in a stretched position by having subject lie on side with leg straight and stretched forward. Begin peeling the backing from section 2 and apply directly over the hamstring muscles. It is not necessary to stretch the tape as it is applied.
3. With the hamstring muscles still stretched, remove the paper backing from the outer arm of section 2 and apply the tape directly over the center of the injured groin area. Rub each section of tape immediately after applying to activate the glue.
4. Remove the backing from the final arm of section 2 and apply it along the lower boundary of the groin muscles with no additional stretch in the tape. Patient can now relax the leg and move freely. Avoid exercise or bathing for one hour after applying the precut kinesio tape to allow the adhesive to fully set.
How to Apply Kinesiology Tape.
My next post will include the application video for the SpiderTech Groin SpiderTape.
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My last post outlined the benefits of the SpiderTech Groin Spider – a precut kinesiology tape application engineered for injuries to the adductor muscles in the groin area. The step-by-step application instructions were described. This post provides the SpiderTech Tape Groin Spider application instructions in both printable and video formats, showing exactly how the tape should be applied for best results.
Printable PDF Document
Application Instructions for the SpiderTech Tape Precut Groin Spider♦
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Video – How to Apply SpiderTech Groin Kinesiology Tape
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The SpiderTech Tape company has created a comprehensive line of precut kinesiology tape applications for different parts of the body. Each application comes individually packaged with illustrated step-by-step instructions. These products provide a convenient and inexpensive way for non-health professionals to apply kinesiology tape effectively. This is the first in a series of blogs describing the different SpiderTech applications, their uses and how to apply them.
SpiderTech Groin Spider Benefits
♦ Relieves pain and swelling from groin pulls or tears
♦ Speeds recovery in overused muscles
♦ Provides protection as groin injuries heal
♦ Improves strength of injured groin muscles
♦ Provides support without restricting range of motion
♦ Prevents or relieves cramps, spasms or stiffness
♦
.♦.
Application Instructions for Pre-Cut Groin Kinesiology Tape
Begin by tearing all of the perforations on the backing of the tape. Clean the skin with soap and water or rubbing alcohol before applying tape.
1. Subject should be lying on back with leg relaxed. Remove half of the backing from section 1 and apply as high as possible over the groin area. Repeat with the other half of section 1. Gently rub the tape to activate the adhesive.
2. Place the groin muscles in a stretched position by abducting the leg. Remove the backing from the top arm of section 2 and apply along the upper boundary of the groin (adductor) muscles. It is not necessary to stretch the tape as it is applied.
3. With the groin muscles still stretched, remove the paper backing from the middle arm of section 2 and apply the tape directly over the center of the injured groin area. Rub each section of tape immediately after applying to activate the glue.
4. Remove the backing from the final arm of section 2 and apply it along the lower boundary of the groin muscles with no additional stretch in the tape. Patient can now relax the leg and move freely. Avoid exercise or bathing for one hour after applying the precut kinesio tape to allow the adhesive to fully set.
How to Apply Kinesiology Tape.
My next post will include the application video for the SpiderTech Groin SpiderTape.
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Getting Kinesiology Tape to Stick
posted by Tape Expert
One of the greatest features of kinesiology tape is that it can be worn for several days at a time. It continues to provide therapeutic benefits, 24/7, for the entire time it is on the body. It’s like receiving physical therapy around the clock for days at a time, for only a few dollars.
With that said, however, some kinesiology tape users have experienced difficulty getting their applications to stay in place. This posting will look at the most common culprits when kinesiology tape won’t stick, and present solutions that should increase the wear time significantly.
Culprit #1 – Poor Quality Kinesiology Tape
Although all kinesiology tapes may appear identical at first glance, they are not all identical when it comes to quality. Inferior brands can actually start peeling off the skin within minutes of application, making their bargain prices quickly seem not such a good deal after all.
Solution: Don’t select your kinesiology tape on price alone. The top brand for “stickability” is RockTape, which has a stronger adhesive than any other kinesiology tapes. RockTape receives high praise from high level triathletes for its ability to remain in place through entire Ironman triathlons, including the ocean swims. SpiderTape is also a top quality kinesiology tape, being made from the original Nitto Denko tape from Japan.
Culprit #2 – Skin Oils or Lotions
Any type of oil on the skin is the kiss of death to a kinesiology tape application. This includes oils produced naturally by the skin, as well as any topical lotions, creams, etc. The skin should be as oil-free as possible before tape is applied.
Solution: Clean the skin well with soap and water and/or rubbing alcohol immediately before applying kinesiology tape. Make sure skin is completely dry before taping.
Culprit #3 – Sweat and/or Water
Kinesiology tape will remain in place throughout swimming, showering or intense perspiration … provided the adhesive has a chance to properly activate before any of this occurs. If moisture is introduced under the tape before the adhesive has been set, the tape will begin to lift very quickly.
Solution: Make sure skin is dry and oil-free before applying kinesiology tape. Immediately after applying the tape, rub it briskly (from center to ends) to activate the adhesive, then wait at least one hour before introducing any type of moisture (showering, swimming or sweating).
Culprit #4 – Body Hair
If you have a lot of body hair in the area you’re taping, the tape is going to stick to the hair, not the skin. This has two downsides. The first is that the tape will not stick well (although the pain you experience as you remove it may make you wonder). Second, the taping won’t be as effective, since it is the direct contact between kinesiology tape and the skin’s surface that is responsible for the therapeutic benefits.
Solution: Clip or shave any hairy areas before applying kinesiology tape. It will stay on longer, work better … and hurt a heck of a lot less when you remove the tape!
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The Gold Medal run of the Night Train with Steve Holcomb’s World Champion USA1 4-man bobsled team may have had some friendly “spiders” along for the ride. Shortly before the Vancouver Olympics, the US Bobsled and Skeleton Federation finalized a two-year sponsorship with SpiderTech, global leader in precut kinesiology tape technology.
SpiderTech products were used before and during the 2010 Winter Olympics, and will continue to provide therapeutic support to elite American bobsledders and skeleton athletes in future competitions. USBSF CEO, Darrin Steele, commented that SpiderTech products will “create a competitive advantage, both on the field and in recuperation.”
Kinesiology tape is now used by athletes of all ages and levels because of its amazing ability to relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation and accelerate healing. Most important to competitive athletes is the fact that this is accomplished without restricting range of motion. This allows athletes to continue to train and compete normally as they recover from many injuries, without worrying about developing secondary injuries from compensatory movement patterns related to restrictive taping.
Precut kinesiology tape, made by SpiderTech, is a perfect choice for those who want the benefits of kinesiology taping, but have no training in cutting and applying tape from rolls. Each SpiderTech application is pre-cut for a specific body part. The back of each application is labeled and numbered, making it easy to follow the step-by-step instructions included in every package. Currently, there are 16 different applications available for virtually every part of the body. Individual packages are convenient to carry and apply. No scissors or cutting are required – just open the package and put it on.
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PowerTaping … Taping Movements, Not Muscles
“RockTape” and “PowerTaping” have been all the buzz lately, ever since NBC profiled these exciting new kinesiology taping products during their coverage of the Winter Olympics. My last post featured an overview of RockTape, also referred to as Power Tape, plus a video of the NBC segment.
Going hand-in-hand with RockTape is an innovative new kinesiology taping method called PowerTaping. Rather than taping an isolated joint or muscle group, PowerTaping protocol focuses on the entire chain of joints, muscles, fascia and nervous system components responsible for specific movement patterns. The result? Improved efficiency of movement, structural reinforcement of correct motor patterns, and improved fluid dynamics, which all contribute to reduced fatigue, faster recovery and improved biomechanical function.
Benefits of Power Taping
» Delayed onset of fatigue
» More rapid recovery
» Improved flexibility/range of motion in tight muscles
» Relief of swelling, edema and bruising
» Stronger activation of weak, injured or imbalanced muscle groups
» Regained coordination in weak or injured muscle groups
» Correction of balance insufficiencies
» Regained speed after injury or overuse
» Enhanced muscle activation (timing)
» Relief from muscle inhibition following injury or overuse
The image above illustrates one of the possible sport-specific movement chains for cycling. The upper body taping reduces fatigue and muscle vibration in the shoulders, upper arms, forearms and wrists – areas that fatigue in events such as time trials.
Note: The PowerTaping Manual is written for sports practitioners, and demonstrates how to apply RockTape power tape to increase athletic performance. It also provides an overview of the science behind the protocol.
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RockTape Profiled on NBC
posted by Tape Expert
What does it take to get over 2 minutes of free coverage on NBC during the Olympic Games? A totally hot, new product that has implications for athletes of all ages and abilities!
RockTape is an exciting, new kinesiology tape that has been specifically engineered to enhance athletic performance. It provides the same therapeutic benefits as regular kinesiology tape, but some unique properties of the tape, combined with an innovative taping method called PowerTaping™, allow it to also delay the onset of fatigue, accelerate recovery and improve muscle activation during athletic activities. Following are some of the properties of RockTape that has made it a hit with performance athletes:
- A Tighter Weave allows it to provide superior support for working muscles, while still allowing a full range of movement.
- Greater Elasticity (190% vs 130%) creates enhanced “snap back,” for enhanced muscle activation.
- A Stronger Adhesive allows it to stay in place for the duration of even extreme events like Ironman triathlons, marathons, etc.
The results for athletes? Delayed onset of fatigue, enhanced bloodflow to working muscles, accelerated lactate removal and improved muscle activation.
Here’s what NBC had to say about RockTape:
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