Athletic Tape Info Center
Kinesiology Taping for Rehabilitation & Sports Performance
Archive for November, 2010
KT Tape Tennis Channel Video
posted by Tape Expert
KT Tape was featured on the popular Tennis Channel program, Fit to Hit, during the summer. The show featured the lead physical therapist and athletic trainer for the ATP, Clay Sniteman. Sniteman uses KT Tape on tennis pros to relieve pain, reduce swelling and accelerate healing from their injuries. Tennis pros love it because it allows them to continue training and competing as they recover from such injuries as tennis elbow, rotator cuff injuries, wrist strain, knee pain and more. The elastic properties of kinesiology tape allow it to provide support for an injured or overused area without restricting movement, a critical feature for tennis players who need to access their full arsenal of moves during tournament play.
add comment | Comments Off on KT Tape Tennis Channel Video
Depending on the taping method used, RockTape kinesiology tape can be used either therapeutically or to enhance athletic performance. When the Rock Tape PowerTaping protocol is used, athletic performance benefits can be significant for athletes participating in endurance events. Delayed onset of fatigue and greater endurance result from improved blood flow to working muscles, better removal of lactic acid and enhanced muscle activation, which improves efficiency of movement. This makes it a high-demand item at endurance events such as marathons and triathlons.
The following video clip aired on Great Day SA, a daily news show on KENS5 in San Antonio, two days before San Antonio’s famous Rock ‘N Roll Marathon. Watch below as sports physician and professional athlete, Dr. Judy Stavely, discusses the benefits of RockTape …
add comment | Comments Off on RockTape Endorsed at Rock ‘n Roll Marathon
Airrosti Now Taping with KT Tape
posted by Tape Expert
I wrote a detailed post back in May about the Airrosti (Applied Integration for the Rapid Recovery of Soft Tissue Injuries) method for treating soft tissue injuries and their use of kinesiology tape. At the time I noted that my Airrosti provider had a supply of three of the four major brands of kinesiology tape. I’m now pleased to announce that they have added the highly-respected KT Tape (Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape) to their arsenal – in fact, they recently contracted with KT Tape to produce a private-label tape with the Airrosti logo on it. Since I’m currently undergoing Airrosti treatment again (this time for a high hamstring strain), I thought this would be a good time to revisit the topic of fascial manipulation and why kinesiology taping is such a complementary modality.
Airrosti is a form of “manual therapy” that involves hands-on manipulation of the fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds and connects all body tissues. Fascia can become tightened, twisted or distorted as a result of trauma or overuse, leading to pain and loss of mobility. The only way to correct these fascial issues is through direct manipulation. If that sounds like it might be painful, you’re right. The only way to reach and affect fascia is through deep (and I mean DEEP) manipulation of those tissues. Airrosti therapists do this by pressing deep into the constricted tissue with their thumbs.
In my most recent injury, Dr. Schmedding, my Airrosti provider, performed this procedure along the entire length of my hamstrings as well as some of my adductors, beginning at the knee and ending on the ischeal tuberosity (sitting bone). Although it was extremely uncomfortable at times, past experience taught me that this was a“good” kind of pain, associated with the release of tissues to a healthier state. I could actually feel the change in resistance in my tissues as Dr. Schmedding “released” one area after another. And, despite the discomfort I endured during the session, I walked out virtually pain-free, a major improvement over my condition only an hour earlier.
I also walked out with several colorful strips of KT Tape extending from my gluteal area all the way down to my calf. (The image shows my earlier IT Band taping.) KT Tape is an ideal companion to Airrosti because of its ability to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and reduce bruising. It also provides structural support without restricting range of motion, an important feature for injured athletes. I’m pleased to say the reduction of pain and inflammation was evident immediately in my painful hamstring. The prevention of bruising was not quite as complete, but what the heck, the KT Tape covered most of it anyway!
add comment | Comments Off on Airrosti Now Taping with KT Tape
Just in time for holiday gift giving, KT Tape is launching a new line in their Kinesiology Tape Precut Strips category. Aptly named KT Tape Team Colors, the 9 new colors can be combined to match the colors for most professional, amateur and school sports teams. As Theratape.com says, “Now you can support your muscles AND your team at the same time!”
KT Tape is conveniently packaged in rolls of 20 precut strips. Simply tear off a strip, remove the backing and apply according to the instructions included in every package. Because most applications use two strips, it’s easy to create your team colors by using one strip of each color.
The new colors include burgundy, forest green, gold, grey, light blue, navy, orange, purple, white and a completely off-the-wall camo pattern (not sure which team wears camo, but I don’t think I’d like to compete against them!) KT Tape is also available in the more traditional kinesiology tape colors of beige, black, green, red, pink and royal blue. In addition to the single rolls of precut strips, KT Tape also comes in classic uncut rolls in both single and bulk sizes.
add comment | Comments Off on Theratape Introduces New KT Tape Team Colors
Kinesiology tape can be applied in different ways to achieve different results. By manipulating the amount of stretch in the muscle and/or the amount of stretch in the tape, a kinesiology taping application can provide pain relief, lymphatic drainage or structural support. When pain relief is the desired objective, the rule of thumb is to stretch the muscle, not the tape. This is accomplished by holding the target muscle group in a position of maximal stretch (within pain tolerance) as the tape is applied with no stretch.
The SpiderTech Tape company has produced a series of three educational videos in conjunction with the launch of their new product, SpiderTech PowerStrips – precut kinesiology tape strips in X, Y and I configurations. The following video demonstrates how to create a neurosensory (pain relief) application, using Spider Tech Power Strips.
add comment | Comments Off on Kinesiology Taping Techniques – Pain Relief
Kinesiology tape can be applied in different ways to achieve different benefits. One of the main taping techniques is to provide structural support for weak or injured muscles or joints. Because of its elasticity, kinesiology taping is not suitable to provide rigid support for a severe injury or to stabilize an unstable joint. It can, however, be used very effectively to prevent potentially harmful ranges of motion or to improve static or dynamic postures.
The following video was produced by the makers of SpiderTech Tape, to explain and demonstrate how kinesiology tape can be used to provide structural support for a muscle group or joint.
add comment | Comments Off on Kinesiology Taping Techniques – Structural Support
