Are kinesiology tapes just for athletes? If not, who else can benefit from them, and how? Have these questions plagued you for a while? Read on to find answers to these questions.
It may help our cause if we first discuss the fact that all of Dr. Kase’s patients were probably not athletes. In case you didn’t know, Dr. Kase was the first to develop the Kinesio tape, which is now widespread today, and he developed the tape because of his patients. Dr. Kase’s patients had bone problems, joint pains, and bad posture. You can probably guess what this man’s specialty was at this point; he was a chiropractor.
When these patients, who were probably not athletes, came into his office, Dr. Kase would treat them and send them home, but they’d be back the next week or maybe the one after. Why? The solution was temporary because they returned to their bad habits and postures as soon as they stepped out of the office. This was not helping matters at all. So, the doctor decided he needed something for his patients to keep them in check outside the office. So, he tried to use the medical tape that was already available. This increased the patients’ sense of proprioception and removed some of their pain.
However, the patients still came back, and this time it was with even more complaints. Reactions, discomfort, stiffness, and restriction of the movement were some of the things that the tape was causing. As you will agree, this was defeating the whole purpose of treatment. And so, Dr. Kase took matters into his own hands; he decided to make a type of tape that would fit the criteria he wanted.
He developed a tape that was flexible, elastic, comfortable, hypoallergenic, and did not restrict mobility. He called it Kinesio Tex Tape, which is what we commonly know today as kinesiology tape.
Feature of Our Kinesiology Tape and How They Benefit Regular You
You now know the basic features of kinesiology tape. You know that it is supposed to be elastic, flexible, and painless. However, it is time to get a bit specific. What are the features of Hampton Adams 16ft Kinesiology tape? How does our kinesiology tape feel?
● The 16ft kinesiology tape produced at Hampton Adams is the epitome of comfortability. We know that this is the first thing anyone will probably want to ensure. Irrespective of who you are and what you do, your comfort is a priority. You can not find our tape being itchy, scratchy, or causing a breakout of rashes; it has been made to feel like a second skin. It is made out of cotton and does not contain allergens like latex or any other form of rubber. It is strong and resilient but soft at the same time. Reacting to tape is a problem you do not have to worry about with us. We put a lot of thought into how we want our tape to make our customers feel, and uncomfortable is not part of this.
● We have a “no sticky residue” policy. You may have dealt with this for a while, and it must have been mighty annoying and probably irritating for your skin. We have solved this common tape problem at Hampton Adams by using a unique formula that ensures that your tape and its adhesive come off entirely without leaving any sticky substance on your skin. The tape is also made in a way that it won’t tear off your skin during removal. This will be specifically helpful to people with fragile or sensitive skin.
● Incredible flexibility and peerless elasticity are some other characteristics that define our kinesiology tape. Of course, this is something of a prerequisite for kinesiology tape, but we took it to the next level. Our tape is insanely stretchy; this, however, does not lessen its firmness. This flexibility allows for maximum mobility, which everyone, athlete or not, needs for their day-to-day activities.
● Hampton Adams 16ft kinesiology tape is water-resistant. The water-resistant feature increases the durability; it helps our tape to stay up longer. In other words, it can stay with you in the shower, and you can go for a swim while you have it on. Professional swimmers and anyone who likes a good swim will find our tape helpful.
After mentioning all these incredible features, plus the fact that it is FDA-approved, it does not take much to figure out why our tape is a top choice among physical therapists.
What Can Kinesiology Tape Do for People Who Are NOT Athletes?
1. Musculoskeletal Pain Reduction
As you will remember from Dr. Kase’s story, kinesiology tapes were developed to relieve musculoskeletal pain. It was not the only reason for this invention but was one of the primary purposes. So, how does a strip of tape relieve musculoskeletal pain? It sounds somewhat incredulous, doesn’t it? It won’t by the time you are done with this explanation.
As you know, there are various substances in different states under our skin. There are organs, vessels, nerves, muscles, tissues, fluids, etc. Applying kinesiology tape to any part of your skin creates a distance between the inner part of your skin and everything beneath it. This space is not gigantic, but it has quite the effect. Are you wondering what the space does? Everything, that’s the answer. As the skin lifts and space is created, pressure drops. This changes the signal the receptors will receive and send to the brain. Without that space, it would have been a pain signal. This, of course, means that your body will not register the pain. It does not eradicate the pain, but it reduces it. And that, people, is how kinesiology tape reduces musculoskeletal pain.
2. Prevents Injuries
Kinesiology tapes can be used to prevent injuries, even if you are not an athlete. Of course, it may make more sense that athletes use the tape for this particular purpose more than other people will; however, it is not restricted to them. Suppose you are about to engage in an activity that may be physically tasking or exhausting for a particular part of your body. In that case, you may decide to tape it because prevention is always better than cure. Using a Kinesiology Tape for Knee can help provide stability and more support, thereby reducing your chances of getting injured.
3. Treating injuries
Kinesiology tapes can also be used in the treatment of injuries, and this applies to everyone. The tape can reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain, as we already discussed. Of course, it is impossible to heal a wound with k-tape completely, but it helps relieve some symptoms. The subcutaneous space Kinesio tape creates also allows fluid to pass properly beneath the skin, reducing inflammation. It can also aid injured or stressed muscles in working better.
4. Correcting posture
Even though we have previously said that our Kinesio tape feels like a second skin, it does mean it goes unnoticed. Even if you had an actual second skin, chances are you would notice. The presence of this tape on your skin increases your sense of proprioception. It serves as a subtle reminder to stand up straight and stop slouching.
How to Apply Kinesiology Tape
● Before applying kinesiology tape, make sure that it is what you need. To verify this, you may need to consult a professional. This way, you get to know if you need kinesiology tape, why, and how you should apply it. Specifically, you will know what shape of the strip will have the best effect on you. There are three shapes: I, X, and Y.
● After this, ensure that the spot is cleaned properly. If there is excessive hair on it, you should shave it. Then, you should wash and dry with a clean towel. Alcoholic wipes are good alternatives for this step. This helps the tape to stick better because it is difficult for tape to stick to a wet or hairy spot. It also makes removal easy. Please note that you should never apply tape to an open wound.
● Before handling the tape, ensure that your hands are clean and dry. Slice the tape with a cutter if it is not pre-cut. Make sure you get a reasonable length for that part of your body; it should be slightly longer than the exact length of the body part.
● If applying tape to a joint, flex it before application. This helps to ensure that the tape does not come off once you extend the joint.
● Once you have applied the tape, smooth it over with your hands for maximum adhesion.
On our page at Hampton Adams, you will find kinesiology tape in different colors and other taping equipment. So, make sure to visit us.