As a fitness pro, you are constantly in search of tools that can help you keep your body in good shape. Well, let us introduce you to kinesiology tape. K-tape, as it is commonly referred to, is a fitness pro’s must-have.
Kinesiology sports tapes are therapeutic pieces of fabric with adhesive backings. They are often used by chiropractors and physical therapists to provide comfort and pain relief to patients. K-tapes were first introduced by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor, in 1979. He called it Kinesio tex tape. Today, there are over fifty brands of kinesio tape, all trying to serve the same purpose as the original one. They all vary in quality and unique characteristics.
For a brand like Hampton Adams, these are some of the defining qualities of our kinesiology sports tape:
First and foremost, we have a No Sticky Residue policy. This is a very rare quality among tape brands. Most tapes leave a sticky white substance on your skin after removal. This residue is often irritating, stressful to remove, and can be downright damaging to skin, especially if you have sensitive skin.
This is an issue we have managed to curb here at Hampton. We use a special formula to make the adhesive on our tape leave no trace. This ensures that you do not have to worry about sticky residue with our kinesiology tape. This does not make our tape any less sticky, just more comfortable.
Hampton Adams 16ft kinesiology tape is incredibly strong, durable, and resilient. This is thanks to the kind of materials we use and our meticulous production process. Our tape is made from hypoallergenic and medical-grade materials, which ensure its strength and quality. The cotton we use in making the tape is also completely pure.
Coming next on this list is the comfortability of our product. This can be attributed to our use of quality materials. Our tape does not contain latex or any other allergens that can cause reactions. This significantly reduces the risk of infections and rashes.
Our tape is also very flexible and elastic. This prevents excessive restriction of your range of motion. You can easily move around in Hampton Adams kinesiology tape without the imminent fear that it is going to fall apart or tear off. It is made to provide support while allowing movement to the maximum.
To conclude, our tape is pet-friendly, water-resistant, and available in various colors. Thanks to all these features, Hampton Adams 16ft kinesiology tape is a highly favored choice by physical therapists.
Now that you know what brand will serve you best let’s move on to what exactly kinesiology tape can do for you as a fitness pro.
What Can Kinesiology Tape Do for You?
As a fitness pro, there are a myriad of functions that kinesiology tape can perform for you; one being support. It could simply be that you need extra musculoskeletal support to engage in a certain activity; kinesiology tape can do that for you.
All you have to do is wrap it around the part where you need support. Doing this can help you prevent injuries, or at least reduce their intensity.
Kinesiology sports tape, alongside other treatment methods, can be used to treat many injuries. K-tape is primarily used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. To do this, it uses the process of decompression which involves the creation of extra subcutaneous space.
Since K-tape tape sticks so closely to the skin, it causes a slight lift that creates space beneath the skin. This successfully changes the signals on pain pathways which reduces the pain you may feel. It also reduces the pressure on tense muscles. The space created can also reduce inflammation by enhancing the flow of fluids in your body.
Who Else Can Benefit From Kinesiology Tape?
Fitness pros are not the only ones who can benefit from using kinesiology tape. Anyone can have a condition that makes their muscles weak or sustain an injury that makes them require extra support. Other categories of people that can use kinesiology include:
- Those with jobs that put a lot of stress on their muscles. For example, manual workers may engage in many strenuous activities. They can use kinesiology tape to relieve some of their pain.
- Those who live sedentary lifestyles may also find some use for kinesiology tapes. Their lifestyle may be due to their job or a condition. Continuously being in one position without movement can cause some muscles to lose their function. In addition, it can lead to the development of bad posture. These people can use K-tape to improve their muscle function and their posture, as well.
- Lastly, anyone with an injury or a condition that causes joint pain or muscle weakness can use kinesiology tape.
When Not to Use K-Tape
Certain conditions and situations can make the use of kinesiology uncomfortable or
even dangerous to use. Some situations that should make you avoid the use of kinesiology tape include:
- Open wound: You should never use tape on an open, bloody wound. This will be very uncomfortable and irritating, and it may even lead to an infection.
- Delicate skin: You may have very fragile skin; this may be natural or due to an infection. If you do have delicate skin, Kinesio tape may damage it. If it is necessary, you may consult a doctor to confirm whether it is safe for you to use K-Tape.
- Allergies: If you are allergic to certain components that may be present in tape, you should keep a lookout for the listed ingredients on their packages or just avoid the tapes altogether.
- Diseases: Some diseases like diabetes and cancer may prevent you from using kinesiology tape. Diabetes may prevent you from noticing a reaction to tape while increased blood circulation that K-tapes cause can be dangerous for cancer.
How to Apply Kinesiology Tape
Before applying kinesiology tape by yourself, you should always consult a professional. A physical therapist will tell you what methods are best for you and show you which application pattern will suit your condition. After that, there are some basic steps you need to follow:
- Wash and dry the area you want to apply tape to. This is to get rid of any moisture that may be present.
- Shave off any excess hair that is present in the desired taping area. If there’s too much hair on your skin, it will affect the adhesion of the tape.
- If your K-tape does not come pre-cut, you may need a tape cutter to cut up the roll. Avoid touching the glue during this process, as this can reduce adhesion. Cut a length of tape that is a little longer than required.
- If you are applying tape to a joint, bend it before application. This prevents the tape from falling off when you extend the joint.
- After applying the tape, rub it vigorously for a while and smoothen the surface with your hands. This will improve the adhesion.
How to Remove Kinesiology Tape
When you are ready to remove the tape, you can apply some lotion or oil to the top of the tape to loosen it up. Leave the liquid on for a few minutes. Peel the tape gently and slowly while holding your skin down to alleviate the pain. Peel downwards if the tape is on a limb and towards the midline if it’s on the trunk.
We produce high-quality, strong, and comfortable taping equipment at Hampton Adams. All of our tapes are backed up by a sixty-day money-back guarantee; therefore, you can make a purchase with absolute peace of mind. To make this purchase, visit Hampton Adams. Lastly, if you have any other questions about kinesiology tapes, you can direct them to our customer service.