Athletic Tape Info Center

The hottest trend in athletic therapy today is kinesio taping – application of a thin, stretchy athletic tape on injured or overused body parts. Satisfied users have reported rapid relief of pain, reduction of swelling and even improved performance from the taped muscle groups.

Depending on the method of taping, kinesiology tape can be used to either inhibit or stimulate a muscle or muscle group. The following suggestions apply to both Kinesio Tape (Kinesio Tex Tape), which comes in rolls, and SpiderTech pre-cut kinesiology tape, which is already configured for specific body parts.

For Overused or Overstretched Muscles
If a muscle is suffering from fatigue and overuse, an inhibitory taping technique should be used to assist in relaxation and recovery and/or relieve pain. Begin by placing the muscle in a stretched position. Apply the anchor end of the tape to the insertion (end) of the muscle with no stretch on the tape. Continue applying the tape, ending at the origin (beginning) of the muscle. There should be only a slight tension/stretch in the tape. Since kinesiology tape is already stretched 25% when the backing is applied, simply placing it on the muscle as it comes off the backing should create the optimum stretch.

For Muscle Weakness or Rehabilitation of Injured Muscles
Kinesio taping can be equally effective to stimulate weak or poorly-toned muscles as well as for rehabilitating muscles after the acute phase of an injury. In these situations, the tape is stretched instead of the muscle. It is also applied in the opposite direction, beginning at the origin and ending at the insertion. Except for the anchor (beginning) and the tail (end), the tape should be stretched slightly as it is applied to the skin.